Parliament debates Centre for Urban Transportation bill

Accra, May 5, GNA- Parliament on Wednesday had a second reading of the Centre for Urban Transport (CUT) bill that will modernize urban transport system in Ghana.

The bill is purposed to establish a centre that will provide expertise, policy and research into urban transportation. It will serve as a reservoir for urban transport policy for the country.

Mr. Joseph Yieleh Chireh, Minister for Local Government and Rural Development, who moved the motion for the debate, said the transport system in Ghana particularly in the urban settings was saddled with many hindrances such as traffic congestions.

He said commuters spent too much time travelling to work and other places because of traffic congestions and had limited road safety. He noted that Ghana would run the risk of losing the loan if they did not act fast in passing the bill.

Mr. Dominic Azimbe Azuma, Member for Garu/Tempane, who seconded the motion, said to establish a system that would provide technical expertise and knowledge was a laudable idea and called on members to support the motion.

Mr. Kwesi Ameyaw-Cheremeh, Member for Sunyani East, said the centre must regulate the activities of all transportation systems in the country such as air, water and land transportation system in Ghana. He said for the country to ease traffic congestions on the roads, Ghana must consider the introduction of underground rail transport system in Accra and Kumasi.

He said the bill was long over due and called on members to support it. Mr. Charles Hodogbey, North Tongu, said most buses that were normally brought into the country got broken because they were not meant for the Ghanaian environment and described such a phenomenon as an "eye sore". He said many laws and regulations were made but lack of commitment to enforce these laws rendered ineffective and asked the bill does not suffer the same fate when it becomes law.

Mrs. Catherine Afeku, Member for Evalue-Gwira, said all stakeholders must be brought together for the success of the project and also called on all Ghanaians to lend their support because the long term benefits of the programme were enormous.

Mr. Doe Adjaho, First Deputy Speaker of the House said the report on the motion did not state anything on the agitations from a section of the public on the issue and called on the committee to consult such groups. Mr. Joseph Yieleh Chireh, in response, assured the house that the committee consulted that entire stakeholder and called on the house to help educate the dissenting groups on the benefits of the project. He said the wrong impression had been created that the system when introduced would badly affect their businesses. He said the new system would rather benefit the private transport operators as loans would be available for them to purchase durable vehicle suitable for the Ghana's weather conditions. 5 May10