STORY BY INFORMATION SERVICES DEPARTMENT

On Wednesday, 8th December, 2021, the Transport Department of Ga Central Municipal Assembly, organized a Public Transport Services meeting with stakeholders in the municipality at the Maranatha University College.
Present at the meeting were the Municipal Chief Executive (MCE), Hon. Mohammed Bashiru Kamara, Hon. Assembly Members, The Urban Roads Engineer, Mr. John Armah, Heads of Department and executives of the various transport unions in the Municipality.

OBJECTIVE
The objective of the meeting was basically to highlight problems of road users (both pedestrians and vehicular movement). Mr. Baffour Awuah Darlington, the Municipal Transport Officer (MTO) welcomed participants to the presentation section and informed the house that the meeting would be brief as well as interactive.

PRESENTATION BY NCCE DIRECTOR
Before the start of the presentation, the Municipal Director for NCCE (Ga Central), Madam Cynthia Anima Boadu spoke to participants about the role of the transport department. She urged all leaders gathered at the meeting to help educate the drivers on salient issues that would make the road safe for all motorists.

PRESENTATION BY MUNICIPAL CHIEF EXECUTIVE
The Municipal Chief Executive of Ga Central, Hon Mohammed Bashiru Kamara began by highlighting the problems faced on the road and the measures taken to address them. He stated that several demonstrations have been done due to the bad nature of roads, however he will ensure that it will be taken care of. According to him, demonstrations do not bring improvement as such a better way of curbing the problem is finding a voice to their grievances.

He further stated that several roads in places like Santa Maria, Sowutuom, Kwashieman, Lapaz and other places have been constructed. Aside these, areas like Oyinase, Agape, Fanmilk, Auntie Aku and several others have been given on contract and is currently at a halt due to the rains. He then emphasized that demonstrations done due to the bad nature of roads should be curtailed going forward. traffic situation.

PRESENTATION BY THE ASSEMBLYMAN FOR SOWUTUOM
The Assembly member for Sowutuom, Hon. Abdullah Shuaib William said leaders should set examples for their members to follow. According to him, the functions of a leader is to influence its members as such portraying a discipline attitude towards work for members to follow. Hon. Shuaib went further to say that leaders of the various driver unions should set up welfare committees to help support every member of the union when the need arises.

PRESENTATION BY URBAN ROADS ENGINEER
Mr. John Armah, the Urban Roads Engineer in his presentation said “the construction of roads is not the work of the assembly though people think it is. About 134 kilometers of roads has been noted down to be constructed but due to the rain the process has slowed down”. He then assured all present that all major roads will be constructed in due time.

PRESENTATION BY THE SOWUTUOM POLICE COMMANDER
The Police Commander, ASP Patience Akwetey emphasized that demonstrations should be done in a rightful way and with the intent of not destructing lives as well as property. According to her people who organize demonstrations sometimes do it unlawfully. They do not inform the police and in that case take advantage of the movement. She further said that drivers and police are partners as such every necessary information like their road worthy, insurance, license and stickers need to be provided anytime they are asked. ASP Patience Akwetey added that Christmas festive is around and drivers may take alcohol whiles driving. She then advised that drivers avoid alcohol intake during this festive season because the mistake of a driver can affect the lives of many.

PRESENTATION BY HEAD OF TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT (PLANS FOR 2022)
The Head of Transport, Mr. Baffour Awuah Darlington bringing the programme to an end, informed participants about plans set to commence in 2022. One is the registration of drivers, vehicles and Unions specifically for those in the Ga Central Municipality especially the forty (40) unions stating that the unions will be visited from time to time to be registered.

With the issue of ticketing, the transport officer said that this will be done from the Assembly once registration is completed. Two revenue collectors will be at the two zones specifically the Anyaa and Chantan zone. According to him the process is very essential because it would help in the progress of the transport union. He then pleaded that all Union executives cope with the transport department for all issues to be addressed. Later he proposed that a five-member team is set up for the union and that should include the Head of Transport, a member from the planning department, finance department as well as the administration department.

Enforcement will be done by the Ga Central Municipal Assembly in collaboration with the MTTD of Ghana Police Service.

MCE’ RESPONSES TO CHALLENGES RAISED
MCE response to challenges raised by various transport unions under GCMA:

The hon. MCE assured participant that all the grievances will be addressed in no time. He said most of the roads have been given out on contract and has stalled due to the onset of the rains. Hon. Bashiru in his closing address urged all leaders on the various groups to help the assembly to bring development to the communities by paying their taxes through ticketing.

Generally, the meeting was a success.