MMT to participate in Ghana Policy Fair 2010

Accra, April 26, GNA - The Management of Metro Mass Transport Limited (MMT) a public transport organisation on Monday announced its preparedness to participate in the Ghana Policy Fair 2010, to educate the public on its operations towards national socio-economic development. The fair scheduled for Tuesday, April 27 - Saturday, May 1, is on the theme: "Engaging the Citizenry for a Better Ghana," and would be held at the Accra International Conference Centre.

Speaking in an interview with Ghana News Agency in Accra, Mr. Martin Afram, Acting Managing Director, MMT, said in addition to its core operations, management would recruit drivers during the fair. He said "the basic criteria for selection are that the applicants must be between 30-45 years, obtain a valid class 'F' driving licence and a Middle School Leaving Certificate".

"Applicants must be able to read and write English Language, be physically strong, mentally sound and have good eyesight," he said. Mr Afram said management would use the fair to educate participants on the need to observe road safety regulations, which include the need for drivers to avoid drink driving, over speeding, over loading and careless driving to complement government's efforts to reduce the carnage on the road.

Mr James Agyenim-Boateng, Deputy Minister of Information, last Tuesday announced government's plans to organise a national fair to offer Ghanaians an opportunity to evaluate policies being implemented to determine their relevance to socio-economic development.

The five-day fair seeks to collate information from the public, private sector, and civil society on government policies, projects and programmes and deepen the process of public consultation. It would also afford Ministries, Departments and Agencies, Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies the opportunity to exhibit and showcase their policies.

Briefing the press, Mr Agyenim-Boateng, said it was a significant commitment to engage the citizenry to deepen transparency and accountability in governance.

He explained that government's objective to organise the fair was to help demystify governance since policies had practical reality that impact on all and sundry and present a guided decisions towards particular outcomes.

"This policy fair is an attempt to answer the questions: what have we been doing to bring us where we are, where we are now and what are we doing to get to where we want to be?" Mr Agyenim-Boateng said.

He said government's promise to deliver was premised on the commitment to efficiently manage public resources in a manner that would respond to the problems and critical needs of a broad section of the people.

Mr Agyenim-Boateng said government expected the fair to contribute and bring the people on board government's Better Ghana agenda, provide a platform for the various ministries to account for their stewardship, investment drive and public-private partnership in the implementation of policies and programmes. 26 April 10