Scania team holds discussions with transport sector operators
A three-man delegation from the Swedish automobile company, Scania, is currently holding discussions with some public transport operators for the provision of buses for urban and inter-city transport in Ghana.
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The group is also exploring ways to establish its West Africa hub in Ghana to service its West African market with the provision of services such as bus system expertise, fleet management and custom-tailored buses and engines.
Currently, the Scania group is inspecting the BRT routes and terminals between Amasaman and Accra Central. This is to provide the team an insight into the system and afford it the opportunity to provide both buses and technical services for the operations of the BRT by next year.
Mr Alfred Okoe Vanderpuije, the Accra Metropolitan Assembly Chief Executive who also doubles as the head of the implementation committee of the BRT in Accra, said the Bus Rapid System (BRS) was interested in initially securing 86 buses for its Amasaman and Accra routes.
He added that the visit of the team was useful, as the assemblies, who were the managers of the BRT, were developing business contracts with bus operators who would provide buses to operate the BRT system.
The Minister of Transport, Mrs Dzifa Attivor, held a meeting with the Scania Group and managers of BRT, Metro Mass Transit Company Limited and Intra City STC Company as a follow-up to a request made by President John Dramani Mahama during his state visit to Sweden recently where he urged the managers of Scania to explore opportunities of sharing their wide experience with Ghana in the provision of effective and efficient public transport.
According to the minister, the move had become necessary and urgent because the government wanted to facilitate the provision of convenient and efficient public urban transport system in the country.
She said this must be done with buses that would provide comfort and would also be reliable; adding that such a system would encourage people with even white colour jobs to patronise public transport.
She explained that the move would reduce the number of private and mini buses on the road which would lead to lower traffic congestion, less pollution of the environment and to enable the country to make savings on its fuel imports.
The leader of the Scania team, Dr Anders Folkesson, explained that the company had financing component which included operational leases, financial leases, hire purchases and insurance solutions.
He added that the company also provided other services such as bus system expertise, fleet management and custom-tailored buses.