Let's dialogue on RTS, Ashietey tells GPRTU

Accra, May, 4, GNA-Mr. Nii Armah Ashietey, the Greater Accra Regional Minister, has said that dialogue remains very important in finding the way out of any problem. He said the misunderstanding between the Ghana Private Road Transport Union (GPRTU) and the Accra Metropolitan Assembly on the implementation of the Bus Rapid Transport System (RTS) needs to be resolved through dialogue. Mr. Ashietey said there was the need to study the Bus Rapid Transport System carefully to understand its objectives as that was the basis of any policy in development.

He was speaking at a meeting held in Accra on Tuesday with the regional executives of the GPRTU to come out with the proper ways of solving this problem.

According to him, matters relating to labour must be managed properly to promote mutual understanding and unity amongst the parties adding, the country had passed the stage where confrontation between management and workers was the order of the day.

He said the Bus Rapid Transport System was a public transportation system that uses buses to provide faster, more efficient service than an ordinary bus line.

Mr. Ashietey said the private operators work without any scheduled, route licensing or service standards. The licence gives them permission to operate anywhere, resulting in their concentration along the main high-density corridors.

According to Mr. Asietey, a dedicated bus lane allows the bus to operate separately, without interference from other modes of traffic, thereby easing the normal traffic situations in the cities. He said the cities have had to contend with worsened road congestion, a deteriorating urban environment and it was high time measures were taken to reduce the congestion.

Mr. Ashietey called on all the executives to discuss and find solutions as soon as possible to the problem as this would not affect the operations of the GPRTU in anyway. 4 May 10