Four Boards Inaugurated

The Ministry for Transport, yesterday inaugurated four new boards of Agencies, comprising, the Ghana Maritime Authority (GMA), Ghana Shippers Council (GSC), Ghana Railway Development Authority (GRDA) and Intercity State Transport Corporation (STC).

The Members of Board of Directors of Ghana Railway Development Authority include; Messrs. Dan Markin (Chairman), G.J Brocke, Emmanuel Opoku, Siisi Essuman-Ocran, Ebenezer Odotei, Jurqen Eijgendaai, Kweku Barnes, Captain Frederick Adjabeng, Alhaji Dramani Egala and Mrs Victoria Addy.

That of the Ghana Shippers Council include; Cmdr K T Dovlo (Chairman), Messrs Kofi Mbiah, Charles Y Mensah, Joseph Sullemana Awudu, E Aquah-Moses, Alex Bothwey, Gordon Anim, Siisi Essuman- Ocran, W Kofi Larbi, Nana Oduro Owusu, Nana Kusi-Appiah and Dr George Dawson-Amoah.

The Inter City STC Board is being chaired by Group Captain Emmanuel K Asante. The Members are Messrs. Ellis Hugh-Tamakloe, Enoch Cobbina, Charles Thompson, Samson Gyamera, D D Nyanterkyi and Brigadier Gen Rtd Edward Lord-Attivor.

The Ghana Maritime Authority is composed of Naval Captain Asubonteng (Chairman), Messrs I P Azuma, T A Selby, Samuel A Quaatey, Andrews Addy. Jonathan Allotey, Nestor Percy Galley, Robert Kingsford Kutin, Emmanuel Martey, Real Admiral Mathew Quashie, Alhaji Asoma Banda, Mrs Georgina Jopap (Nee Boss-Coffie) and Mrs Naa Bensua Aryeetey.

In his inaugural speech, the Sector Minister, Mr Mike Hammah said, the vision of his Ministry is to create a sustainable transportation system that will support inter-alia, growth and poverty reduction, as well as establishing Ghana as a transportation hub in West Africa.

He, as result charged the respective Boards of Directors, to be guided by the social democratic ideology of the current administration, in the formulation of their plans and programme, bearing in mind that, the welfare of the people is paramount in its developmental agenda. 'I wish to charge the Boards to address as a matter of urgency, all labor issues in their respective institutions, in order to forestall any labor unrest.' He emphasised.

The Minister was speaking at a joint inauguration of Boards of Directors under the Transport Ministry in Accra.

Mr Hammah reminded the Boards of their various functions as per Legislative Instruments, to serve as chaperons of Management. He implored both the Boards of Directors and Management to work as a team to realise the objectives of the various institutions.

The Minister acknowledged the Ghana Maritime Authority as very pivotal in Ghana's Oil and Gas exploration, since 'a considerable proportion of the offshore Oil and Gas activities will be carried under the legal mandate of the Ghana Maritime Authority'.

He said, 'there is the need to have in place, the marine pollution Act to deal with ship source pollution in our marine environment and to have a comprehensive Cabbotage regime, to regulate the activities of operators in Ghanaian territorial waters.'

On railways, the sector Minister admitted that Public-Private Partnership (PPP) will be crucial in meeting the enormous challenges. He therefore requested the Board Members to ensure that, necessary regulations and standards are put in place immediately, to facilitate the interests shown by numerous investors in the development of railways.

On Inter city STC, Mr Hammah charged the Board Members to take the competitive safety advantage; they have over other commuters, by putting in place a credible management for efficient and effective operations.