Ernest Kissiedu
19 November 2008
President John Agyekum Kufuor has commissioned 250 coach buses to private transport owners in Accra as part of a Fleet Renewal Project between his government and the private sector.
The coach buses are expected to help promote an efficient and a safe transportation system that would enhance the capacity of doing business in Ghana and beyond.
President Kufuor said the introduction of the buses to the sector would help change the face of transportation in the country.
The buses, he said, would contribute to the reduction of road traffic injuries on various roads and the stress people go through when traveling.
He said they would also replace old and decrepit vehicles in the transport system, which have been proven to be major road hazards and provide a modern, durable and comfortable inter-city travel for all.
He said since 2001 his government has made and demonstrated a growing commitment to making the private sector the engine of growth and development for the country.
Ghana, he said, is on the threshold of an economic and industrial take off and requires the effort of all to help empower the economy. "Economic empowerment enriches productivity," he said.
He thanked the management of Agriculture Development Bank (ADB), Intercontinental Bank Ghana and JA Plant Pool for their contribution towards the transport sector.
Dr. Richard Anane, Minister for Transportation said the private sector has played a vital role in the development of the country's transportation system.
He called for a strong public-private partnership in other endeavours and said the buses are in two different forms with the first 175 having a 51 seating capacity and the remaining 75 with 33 seating capacities.
Dr. Anane said with these buses, the safety of passengers is ensured.
He advised road transport owners who would be receiving these buses to put them into good use.
"Adequate arrangements have been made to maintain these buses," he said.
The Fleet Renewal Project is a Government-Private Sector Partnership to assist in the development of a reliable and efficient transportation system in the country.
125 of the coach buses were funded by the Intercontinental Bank Ghana and the rest sponsored by ADB with technical support on the maintenance of the buses from JA Plant Pool.
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