AMA begins route registration exercise in May

Accra, April 29, GNA - The Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) would f= rom May to August, begin a route registration exercise to take stock of all public transport infrastructure and intra-city routes within the metropol= is. During the period, the assembly would provide forms to the various transport unions operating within the metropolis to register their member= s.

Addressing a meeting attended by executives of the union, Accra Metropolitan Chief Executive, Dr. Alfred Vanderpuije said details on the registration form include organisational structure, areas of operation, routes, information about drivers and their vehicles. Each union is expected to pay GH¢100 for its drivers and would be supplied with stickers. Unsuccessful applicants would be given the right to appeal to meet t= he criteria and anyone who provides false information would pay GH¢2,400 a= s a fine. Unregistered routes would be advertised for the unions to apply whil= e they update their information to the AMA.

Dr Vanderpuije explained that because most of the drivers had alread= y paid their permits for 2010 they would be exempted this year and allow to=

pay for their registration in November for 2011. The meeting was attended by executives of Progressive Transport Owne= rs Association, Ghana Co-operative Society, Metro Mass Transit Limited and Coach Owners Association. Conspicuously absent at the meeting were executives of Ghana Private=

Road Transport Union. Members of the union clad in red arm bands demonstrated at the premi= ses of AMA against the exercise and prevented their executives from attending=

the meeting. The executives who managed to gain access into the premises of AMA w= ere asked by the authorities to dialogue with their members for their mandate=

before the meeting begins, but could not convince them and had to leave. Dr Vanderpuije noted there is the need to curb accidents and indiscipline on the roads and create the enabling environment to serve th= e public with high standards. Mr Abass Awolu, Accra Metropolitan Road Engineer said in line with t= he regulatory framework for passenger transportation in Accra, AMA has to ensure an affordable, safe, reliable and efficient transportation to supp= ort development. He said AMA had to deal with decongestion on the road, empower the private sector to purchase good and luxurious buses for passengers as wel= l as terminals detached from markets. Mr Awolu said it was the responsibility of the assembly to regulate=

urban transportation by planning, registering and licensing and monitorin= g their operations.

The exercise would provide a comprehensive database of public transport routes and unions within the metropolis. It would also inform the assembly's strategy of addressing various problems such as deteriorating quality of public transport vehicles, as w= ell as unqualified drivers whose activities over the years have contributed t= o road accidents.