National transport policy to be established

Tema, March 24, GNA - A National Transport Policy is to be introduced soon to address problems in the operation of transport organisations in both the private and public sectors. Mr Ken Anku, Communications Director of the Ministry of Roads and Transport said this when he took delivery of 50 Metro Mass buses costing 3.1 million dollars from China at the Tema main harbour on Thursday. The buses, including 14 Double Deckers and 36 single cabins bring to 200 the number of buses, which have arrived in the country since January this year, while another 150 Tata buses are expected for City-Rural routes.

A total of 1,000 buses are expected by the end of the year. Mr Anku said under the policy, a big terminal would be opened at Achimota to take care of trucks from the Northern Sector and rules and regulations in the sector streamlined.

According to him, workshops would be held to sensitise transport operators to enable them appreciate and operate confidently. Mr Anku said the new buses from China would gradually phase out the old Metro buses in the system and dispelled criticisms that the previous buses were too old for operation and had to be repaired. He said "the previous buses were not junks because they started working soon after delivery from the port".

He said so far five regional capitals - Tamale, Cape Coast, Accra, Takoradi and Koforidua had been supplied with buses, adding that, the others would be catered for soon since the concentration now was to transport workers to and from work.