By Amadu Kamil Sanah, GNA
Accra, May 5, GNA - The Ghana Urban Mobility and Accessibility Project (GUMAP) has been launched in Accra with a call on ministries, departments and agencies to support in achieving the project’s desired results.
Mr Kwasi Adjei Boateng, the Deputy Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, who launched the project, said it was to improve and integrate urban mobility planning and public transport operations in the Greater Accra Metropolitan Area.
The project, a six million dollar grant from the Government of Switzerland, is also to promote local democracy through participation of citizens in the decision-making process.
Mr Boateng said this would be done through strengthening the capacities of the institutions which played key roles in the development of the mobility space and limited investment measures to complement the capacity building effort.
He said the project would directly benefit the Greater Accra Passenger Transport Executive, the operators of the Aayalolo Bus Services, and six metropolitan and municipal assemblies including the Accra, Tema, La-Nkwantang, Ga East, Ga Central and Ga West.
The Department of Urban Roads, Ministry of Finance and the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) would be the other beneficiaries of the project.
He said a successful implementation of the project would transform the urban areas as an engine of growth and centres for education, entrepreneurship, technological innovation and job opportunities, culminating in an improvement in the standard of living of the people.
The Project Coordinator at the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development, Mr Raymond Ohene Ofori, said the project was grouped into four main components including Urban Mobility Planning and Public Transport Regulation, Traffic Planning and Management, Investment Measures and New Specific Master’s Programme at the KNUST.
This, he said, was designed to equip the implementing institutions with the requisite capacity to undertake policies geared towards improving mobility and accessibility in the GAMA.
Mr Julien Allaire, the Head of International Operation, Transitec Consulting Engineers Ltd, said mobility and accessibility in urban Africa could be realised when there existed an organised transport system and capable human resources to plan, develop and operate.
Mr Allaire said efficient land use and planning as well as dedicated space for mobility enhanced the continent’s quest to build accessible urban areas.
GNA
Read Full Story
Facebook
Twitter
Pinterest
Instagram
Google+
YouTube
LinkedIn
RSS