A Delegation On A Study Tour

*Congestion on our roads and streets in major cities of the country can be attributed to several factors including poor roads, bad road management,road accidents,non compliance,ceremonial events and special events on our roads.

*It is against this background that the Minister Of Roads And Highways, Hon Joe Gidisu together with the Department Of Urban Roads as well as representatives of stakeholders institution are on a three nation study tour in the United Kingdom,Columbia and Brazil.The delegation is to understudy a modern transport system that will combat congestion and improve the quality of public transport.*

*This system known as BRT which literally means Bus Rapid Transport will see to the use of dedicated bus lanes on some selected routes with high tech buses.This Urban transport system is a collaborative project being implemented by the department of Urban Roads with funding from the World Bank,the Global Environmental Facility and the Agence Francaise de Development.The initial project will be implemented in about 10 Municipal and Metropolitan Assemblies namely,Accra Metropolitan Assembly,Tema Metropolitan Assembly,Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly,GA East,GA West,Ledorkuku-Krowor and Weija assemblies.*

*Addressing the Ghanaian delegation in London, Collin Brader an Executive of Integrated Transport Planning Ltd, said passengers would want to spend little time on their journey, it is therefore important for passengers to enjoy smooth riding with uninterrupted stops,clean buses,reliable transport system. He espoused benefits Ghana will derive from this world class of public transport system.*

*The Minister of Roads And Highways Hon. Joe Gidisu said i**n implementing this project the Government of Ghana will acquire the buses,build bus stops, stations,shelters and then set and monitor performance standards of the bus operators.The buses will be leased to private transport operators like Protoa,GPRTU etc . However there will be a central control monitor station which will regulate the operation of the buses. Under this transport system the BRT buses will stop and pick passengers only at designated routes.The minister said in the Atta Mills government manifesto for better Ghana this will create jobs and better position Ghana to benefit from considerable trade and investment. Among the delegation are AMA,TMA and KMA Chief Executives namely Dr. Alfred Vanderpuye, Kempes Ofosuware and Hon Samuel Sarpong.The delegation has since left to Bogota in Columbia and Curitiba in Brazil.*

** *From,Paddington,London*

*Abeiku Aggrey Santana* *a* **