Mr Kwaku Ofori Asiamah addressing the media
Parliament has approved US$208million to finance the construction of 10 fishing landing sites along the country’s coastline.
The identified sites are Elmina, Axim, Dixcove, Moree, Mumford, Winneba, Senya Beraku, Fetteh, Teshie and Ada, to ensure safe landing of artisanal fishing canoes, and create hygienic environments for the fishing communities.
Mr Kwaku Ofori Asiamah, Minister of Transport, disclosed this in Accra yesterday when he took his turn at the meet the press series.
Present were officials from some agencies under the ministry including the Driver Vehicle and Licensing Authority, National Road Safety Commission (NRSC), Ghana Shippers Authority, Volta Lake Transport and Ghana Maritime Authority.
Mr Asiamah said in fulfilment of the government’s initiative to improve safety and livelihood of the communities along the Volta Lake, construction and rehabilitation of ferrying landing sites, and facilities along the lake were also ongoing at the Dambai and Dambai overbank, Yeji, Makango and Agordeke.
“As part of measures to ensure safety of navigation in the Volta Lake, the removal of tree stumps along the navigational routes in the Oti River at Dambai in the Volta Region has been completed,” he added.
He said the Takoradi port would have a facelift with the development of a multi-purpose container terminal by a Ghanaian-owned company, Ibistek, at a cost of US$ 450 million.
The Transport Minister said the Ghana Maritime Authority in collaboration with the ministry was taking steps to ensure the enactment of requisite legislations such as the Ghana Shipping (Carriage of Containers) Regulation 2018 and Ghana Shipping (Cabotages) Regulation 2018, to improve the sector.
Mr Asiamah lamented the spate of road crashes in the country, noting that between January and December 2018, a total of 13,645 road crashes involving 22,025 vehicles, including 3,903 motorcycles, leaving 2,341 persons killed and 13,677 others injured.
He said most of the crashes were as a result of indiscipline among road users.
Mr Asiamah said to ensure speedy response to victims of road traffic crashes along identified sections of major highways; the NRSC had completed the construction of eight emergency response centres on the highways.
“The highways are Asuboi, Bunso junction, Asankare and Juaso on the Accra-Kumasi highway, Joje near Kasseh and Nogokpo on the Accra-Aflao, and Okyereko and Apam junction on the Accra-Takoradi highway,” he added.
Mr Asiamah said the NRSC had commenced the installation of road crossing aids, also known as lollipop stands, at 850 selected basic schools across the country to assist school children to cross roads safely.
Touching on the urban mass transport system, Mr Asiamah said the ministry, in collaboration with the Local Government and Finance ministries, was restructuring “Aayalolo bus” operations.
He said despite cash injection of GH¢4.5million by the government, the operations could still not sustain itself until its suspension last year.
The Minister said a total of 100 buses had been earmarked for deployment to metropolitan assemblies of Sekondi-Takoradi, Kumasi and Tamale for intra-city operations in the regional capitals.
“Kumasi has commenced operations and 120 drivers are currently being trained for all the three regional capitals,” he added.
Mr Asiamah said the government was seeking funding from donor partners, including the World Bank, for development of infrastructure.
“Among these initiatives is the recently approved Transport Sector Improvement Project of US$150.00 million to support infrastructure and services within the transport sector,” he added.
He said the DVLA would continue to upgrade its Information Communication Technology installations to improve efficiency in driver licensing and vehicle testing activities, as well as decongest their premises.
BY ANITA NYARKO-YIRENKYI
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