Accra-Tema train derails after hitting cow tied to the rail line at Avenor

Accra-Tema Train Derails After Hitting Cow Tied to Railway Line

A train on the Accra to Tema route derailed after hitting a cow. The cow was tied to the tracks at Avenor. This incident occurred on June 6, 2025. Fortunately, no passengers were injured, but the cow died.

The collision caused significant damage to railway infrastructure. The train's owner failed to remove the cow before the train arrived. Residents noted that the Eid season brought more livestock into the area.

The crash damaged tracks, beams, and shock absorbers. As a result, services on the Accra-Tema line were temporarily suspended. This line transports over 300 passengers daily.

Concerns about encroachment near the tracks have increased. Structures, livestock pens, and vendors occupy large areas around the railway lines. Goats, rams, and cows often roam freely along these tracks.

This accident has renewed calls for enforcing railway buffer zone regulations. There is a critical need for strict enforcement of a 50-meter buffer zone. This would help prevent further loss of life and infrastructure damage.

In another recent incident on April 18, 2024, a train crashed into a truck stuck on the track. The truck was transporting cement blocks during a test run of the train.

The driver of that truck was charged with multiple breaches of the Railway Act. Abel Dzidotor received a six-month jail sentence for his actions in that crash. He pleaded guilty to several charges related to careless driving and unauthorized stopping.

Dzidotor left his truck unattended on the railway line when it got stuck. He had been delivering cement blocks when this happened.

The Tema-Mpakadan project began in July 2017 and finished in 2022 due to COVID-19 delays. It was initially set for completion in July 2020. This railway connects Ghana from Tema to Burkina Faso's capital, Ouagadougou.

The government procured Modern Diesel Multiple Units (DMUs) from Poland for this project.