The Minister for Transport Hon Dzifa Aku Ativor has disclosed that the Transport sector has witnessed tremendous improvement over the last few years due to government’s significant investments. The sectors that witnessed improvements include the Aviation sub-sector, Maritime, Railways and Road Transport Services.
Hon Dzifa revealed this when took her turn at the meet the press series at the Ministry of Communications conference room in Accra last Tuesday to highlight the performances, achievements, challenges and future prospects of the ministry.
She stated that in line with the Sector’s Medium-Term Development Plan 2014-2017, the President’s Priority Plans and the National Transport Policy, the ministry is currently undertaking major expansion and refurbishment works at the the Kotoka International Airport (KIA).
This consists of refurbishment of the Arrival Hall, the building of 3 new terminals, the construction of the Southern Apron for eight wide bodied aircraft and the installation of CCTV cameras. The construction of the Ghana Civil Aviation Training Academy is near completion.
Repair works on the Kumasi Airport is also underway and it includes the rehabilitation of Runway, upgrading and extension of existing runways and the installation of Airfield Lighting Systems as well as installation of Instrument Landing System.
Upgrade works on the Tamale Airport will commence by the end of July, 2014 whiles development of Aerodromes in Ho, Wa, Cape Coast and Bolgatanga will soon begun.
The process for the acquisition of land for development of a new international Airport in the Dangbe West District is also underway as well as the engagement of a transaction adviser to help government for the establishment of a New National Airline is ongoing.
The Transport minister also disclosed that expansion works on the Tema Port to improve Maritime and Inland Waterways, the construction of bulk cargo handling jetty and dredging, reclamation and construction of Breakwater and Container terminals are all ongoing.
The re-construction of the net-wharfing and the construction of the Maritime Hospital are also near completion. At the Takoradi Port, there is an extension in the breakwater and the dredging and reclamation of Bulk ore terminal area.
The ministry she said has also procured four mobile harbor cranes for both ports, two tug boats for Tema Harbor, 1 security patrol boat for Tema Harbor,3 50-seater passenger Ferries for VLTC and an E-Gate System at Tema.
Currently ongoing is the implementation of the Vessel Traffic Management Information System and construction of a 12-storey Accra Shippers’ House.
Hon. Mrs. Attivor also lamented on the construction of the Takoradi Logistics Platform and the construction of an Administration/Library and Laboratory Complex for Regional Maritime University.
Deliberating on the railway sub-sector, she mentioned the progress of work on the construction of the Sekondi-Takoradi via Kojokrom sub-urban Railway Line, the re-construction of the Western railway line, the Eastern railway line to link the Boankra inland port whiles the Tema-Akosombo Railway Line is waiting potential funding sources.
According to her, modest improvements made in the Road Transport services have resulted in the reduction of crashes. The development of an automated and robust computerized system at the DVLA offices across the country she said has improved processes for the acquisition of driver’s license and service delivery.
Thirteen (13) additional Private Vehicle Test Stations have been granted license to set up nationwide, the DVLA has introduced mobile satellite offices to offer services which is currently being piloted at Nkawkaw, Hohoe, Obuasi, Mampong-Ashanti and Tarkwa.
The construction of a 4 storeys, 8 classroom block and installation of Diagnostic Equipments for Ghana Technical Training Centre is also underway. The Ministry has also planned to procure 200 buses to improve service delivery whiles 1,000 Metro Mass Transport drivers were taken through refresher training programmes on best practices.
The construction of a bus Terminal at Tarkwa is completed whiles the one at Aflao expected to be completed in August, 2014.
The Ministry, she said, is helping in the procurement of 295 buses for the Bus Rapid Transit (245) and fifty (50) for the Intercity State Transport Cooperation.
The Transport Minister also noted the challenges facing the ministry which includes inadequate funding, the lack of training vessels for on-board practical training at the Maritime University, encroachment on government land and ageing fleet of vehicles.
The rest are the higher number of fatalities on the roads, the absence of regulatory authority of the road transport service sector, poor railway infrastructure and operational challenges of the ISTC.
Hon Dzifa assured that the ministry is working hard and urged all to support it to address the challenges confronting the sector.
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