Make transportation priority in development - Prof Addo

Accra, Nov. 7, GNA - Professor Samuel Tetteh Addo, a Lecturer at the University of Ghana on Thursday said transportation played a pivotal role in economic development and urged the Government to pay particular attention to its development.

"Government should come out with a comprehensive transport policy, which could be implemented in phases."

Prof Addo was speaking at the first in the series of this year's inaugural lectures of the University of Ghana, Legon on Thursday. It was on: "Geography, Transport and Development: A Spatial Trinity".

He called for the establishment of a National Transportation Commission that would serve in advisory capacity to the Government. He said the immediate task of the Commission should be the submission of proposals for the formulation of a national transportation development policy and plan.

Prof Addo said the Commission should be charged with monitoring the implementation of plans and offering suggestions, in the fields of integration of the overall system and performance of individuals mandated to undertake various roles.

He said in spite of the crucial role that transportation played in national development there was no desk at the National Development Planning Commission for the Sector.

He said the movement of goods and services across a country denotes the progress and integration of a country. He bemoaned the current transportation system, which he said, suffered from poor organisation, management and policing, especially the urban transport system.

He noted that it was not economical that most travels in the country are made in cars especially in a country that did not manufacture cars nor produce crude oil.

Prof Addo said that there was limited number of buses to convey travellers and also the extent of public transport facilities available for mass movement was virtually non-existence.

Professor Kwadwo Assenso-Okyere, Vice Chancellor of the University, who chaired the function, said transportation was the nerve centre of development.

He said the poor nature of the system added to the lack of developed markets thus accentuating differences in prices of commodities.

He urged that planning should be pushed so that transportation was not limited to only roads, adding that strict routine maintenance should be followed. 7 Nov 03

NECO 04 Economics Minister Economy Government is determined to boost the economy Berekum (B/A) Nov. 7, GNA- The Government is determined to process 30 per cent of the nation's cocoa to boost the national economy, Mr Stephen Asamoah-Boateng, Deputy Minister of Information, said on Wednesday at Berekum in Brong Ahafo. He was addressing a durbar of Heads of Departments, Corporations and staff of Berekum District Assembly on the third day of his weeklong tour of Brong Ahafo. The Deputy Minister said one of the priorities of the NPP Government was to stabilize the cedi and to check the inflationary rate.

"With the inflationary rate between 26 per cent and 28.5 per cent, it is time we put in place mechanisms to ensure the growth of the economy", he said. Mr Asamoah-Boateng said other measures taken to ensure economic growth are the President's Special Initiative (PSI) on Cassava and the encouragement of Private Sector businesses adding that a sound growth economy called for improvement of locally made goods for export. He advised the youth to make use of the Government's training programmes to acquire skills to be able to effectively contribute to the policy on economic growth. In an open forum, the re-introduction of Cap 30 for civil servants featured prominently in suggestions to the appropriate quarters. 07 Nov 03