Accra Nov 29, - The Chartered
Institute of Logistics and Transport (CILT) has indicated that for government
to carry out excellent road expansion projects, it must consider the
dualisation of all major highways.
A statement issued by CILT and
copied to the Ghana News Agency said government must take keen consideration of
this so as to avoid head-on collisions on major roads and reduce its effects on
the economy.
Mr Ebo Hammond, President of CILT-Ghana, said the Institute’s
Council had presented some policy recommendations to Mr Anthony Abayifaa Karbo,
the Deputy Minister for Roads and Highways at his office in Accra.
Mr Hammond indicated that key
highways including; Elubo-Takoradi-Cape Coast-Accra-Aflao and
Accra-Kumasi-Tamale-Paga need consideration since they were the key road-spine
of the country.
“Their development may be done in
phases with funding arrangements such as BOOT and other PPP types,” he said.
According to him, CILT Ghana as a
professional body for transport, logistics and supply chain that wholly
understand the core business of the ministry and its agencies is presenting
some policy recommendations to the ministry in their efforts to support
government to achieve its objectives in the road sector.
While commending government for
already taking certain bold steps in the road sector, CILT proposed that road
projects, both new or re-modeled, in the cities should have dedicated lanes for
emergencies and high occupancy buses to help facilitate emergency medical
evacuation and to facilitate BRT.
He averred that the Institute
holds government in high esteem over steps undertaken to re-construct the 19.5
kilometre Accra-Tema Motorway into a six-carriageway to ease the flow of
vehicular traffic and mentioned that it would enhance the economic productivity
of the nation and improve bridges to assure public safety.
He said: “The Institute is happy
to hear the assurance by government to ensure value for money in the award and
execution of roads contracts.” Adding that the Institute’s recommendations, is
the use of cement to construct roads in Ghana.
Elaborating on this, He
enumerated that CILT supports the proposed policy of using cement to construct
roads in Ghana as announced by the Vice President.
He said it would help find new
jobs for the masons and other related artisans beyond the housing sector, apart
from saving the nation its hard won foreign exchange and boosting local
production of cement.
He mentioned that though using
cement to construct roads in Ghana might be expensive, it would be cost
effective because it would last longer than the usual asphalt roads.
“Government should consider
purposively increasing the recruitment of physically challenged persons who
have the ability to collect road tolls to help in social inclusion for this
group.
"The MoRH may need to
sanitise the illegal furniture on the highways and roads as there is a lot of
clutter that block the view of motorists from seeing road signs/directions
thereby endangering drivers and passengers,” he said.
According to him, there is the
need to ensure standards for erection of billboards to prevent them from
endangering motorists and pedestrians during storms as has been witnessed
during stormy weather conditions.
"CILT also proposed a
constant monitoring of major roads to ensure that faded road markings are
remarked to improve night driving, especially in the absence of streetlights on
most highways and roads, while recommending that “the ministry go back to study
and take notice of the coherent and thoroughly researched Integrated Transport
Plan (ITP) developed for Ghana in 2010 and forecasted through to 2035 for
implementation was factored into the new transport policy.
"There is the need for most
congested urban roads to be improved by opening up all access roads, slip
roads, by-passes, one-ways connecting major roads to help decongest the cities
and reduce urban travel time.
“We recommend that government
consider professionals to execute such complex road works for which
professionals of CILT could offer their expertise in the various aspects of
managing the logistical and research aspects, among others of road
development,” he said.
He added that: “The current quest
for creation of new regions will undoubtedly impact on the country's road network
as new regions will need to be linked to adjoining regions warranting the remodelling
of existing road networks of any new region (s) created.”
He however indicated that the
Institute appreciates that for the purposes of focus, His Excellency the
President has created various ministries with each taking care of aspects of
the transportation system and advised that there should be constant
coordination of strategies, programmes and plans among the transport-related
ministries to help achieve synergy and avoid duplication of efforts.
He commended government and the
Roads and Highways Ministry for the steps so far taken to review all road
projects and urged the ministry to study the recommendations so that together,
they could all fashion out modalities to make the road sector work better.
Receiving the recommendations
from the CILT President, the Deputy Minister, Anthony Karbo gave the assurance
that his ministry will take all stated recommendations to good use.
He however charged CILT to make
further recommendations to government on possible ways of financing road
projects in Ghana.
According to him, private sector
involvement in the development of roads was important and that CILT must
partner government to educate and create awareness on finding new financial
mechanisms for the road sector.
On the use of cement for
constructing roads, the Deputy Minister indicated that government was
considering that strategy, but decision would be taken after a committee set up
to look at the cost benefits come out with its report and recommendations.
Mr Karbo also mentioned that
leakages at the toll booths would be addressed while extensive consultations
are underway to get persons with disability to man the various toll booths.
GNA
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