The Ministry of Transport and the Korean International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) have organised a one-day inception workshop on the development of a Transportation Master Plan Project for the Greater Accra Region.
The project, which is designed to set a clear direction for the transportation system in the Greater Accra Region for the next 20 years, brings together all modes of transport across the region into an ingrated urban transport system.
This will help ensure sustainability and consistency of the region’s transport system.
The project would be implemented over an 18-month period.
Funding of the Transport Master Plan Project
The project is a fully funded grant aid project by the Government of the Republic of Korea at a cost of US$1.5 million.
It will cover the Greater Accra Metropolitan Area (GAMA): Accra, Ga South, Ga West, Ga East, GA Central, Adentan, Ashaiman, Tema, Ledzokuku Krowor, La Dadekotopon, La Nkwantanang, Madina and Kpone Katamanso areas.
The project was initiated after a Technical Survey Team was dispatched to Ghana in July 2013 to hold preliminary discussions and consultations with relevant Ghanaian stakeholders and work out its details.
The stakeholder engagements between the Technical Survey Team and the relevant Ghanaian authorities ended successfully with the signing of the Record of Discussions (ROD) between the Government of Korea, represented by KOICA, and the Government of Ghana, represented by the Ministry of Transport and the Greater Accra Regional Coordinating Council (GARCC).
Launching of the project
The Minister of Transport, Mrs Dzifa Aku Ativor, who launched the development of the Transport Master Plan, said the project sought to reduce traffic congestion and logistics cost in the region through the development of policies, strategies and engineering measures.
She expressed the hope that the project would resolve five key interventions, namely land use, densification in support of public transport, reinforcement of the urban rail services as the main mover of commuters and the extension of the integrated rapid and road-based public transport network.
Mrs Ativor said the project was also expected to strengthen freight hubs and ensure effective travel demand management and mainstream non-motorised transport.
The minister said it was refreshing to know that in addition to the preparation of the Plan, short-term implementable projects with associated financing plans would also be developed to help address some of the traffic problems in the region.
“We need to become more conscious of our environment, use cleaner fuels or alternatives such as compressed natural gas or biogas to power our vehicles and to use transport technology intelligently,” she stated.
“Even though some proposed measures will impose some restrictions, there is the need to implement stronger travel demand management measures to reduce congestion on our roads,” the minister added.
She urged the consultants to come out with a comprehensive and workable report which would create wider public interest.
The Korean experience
In his address, the Korean Ambassador to Ghana, Mr Woon-Ki Lyeo, said South Korea desired to share its experiences and to be a good partner with Ghana in every aspect of its national development.
He said the Transport Master Plan Project, therefore, formed part of South Korea’s efforts to assist Ghana by taking advantage of its expertise in transport system planning.
The Ambassador commended Ghana for being a model of a stable and expanding economy in West Africa.
The Resident Representative of KOICA, Mr Woochan Chang, said as was typical of the Government of Korea in the delivery of its development assistance programmes, the project would involve an Invitational Training Programme to Korea for capacity development of relevant project stakeholders.
Eight Ghanaian officials nominated by their respective ministries, departments and agencies, he said, would be invited to Korea for training and capacity building purposes.
Writer’s Email: kate.hudson @graphic. com.gh