Implementing contraflow system for Aayalolo expensive – AMA Transport Director 

The Director of Transport of the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) Alex Johnson says resorting to the implementation of a contraflow system to execute the Bus Rapid Transit system in Accra will leave the country with a huge financial burden.

According to him, the sections of road on which the contraflow is expected be on, must be redesigned coupled with road signage and adequate public information about the initiative.

Speaking to the media after an African mobility meeting themed “Facilitating Mobility in the African Metropolis”, Mr Johnson indicated that some measures must be put in place to get the Aayalolo buses back in normal traffic when contraflow is not needed.

“If we can solve the issues of road signage or adequate public information to make people aware that within these periods we have contraflow on these sections of the roads then it makes it easier. The installations will have to be obvious and it must be part of the infrastructure design.”

“I personally think that we have to overcome some of these challenges because of how some of our junctions are designed. It will involve a lot of cost and public sensitization,” he stated.

He added that the best way to get the over 100 Aayalolo idle buses into use is when the drivers of public transports are made to be part of the current Quality Bus System (QBS).

“I spoke about the business model approach that allows all the public transport vehicles (trotros) on the corridors to buy into the Aayalolo system. Instead of using their trotro on the corridors, they are retrained to be the drivers of these buses. It has been done for the Amasaman corridor but it has not been done enough.”

“Let's bring together all the trotro unions who are still operating on the corridors and try to move them onto the Aayalolo bus operation system. The trotros will bring passengers from the local areas on to the main roads and the buses take up from there,” he said.

A contraflow is a situation in which vehicles travelling on a main road in one direction have to use lanes that are normally used by traffic travelling in the opposite direction, because the road is being repaired. African mobility meeting

The event was held in the brand-new Ford showroom, in Atlantic Tower, Airport City Accra.

The meeting is part of an itinerant cycle, the African Mobility Meetings, organized by Optorg in three capitals of the continent: Douala on November 7; Accra on December 4 and Abidjan on December 11.

Tractafric Motors Corporation had the opportunity of celebrating the centenary of its parent company, Optorg Group, a leader in specialized distribution in Africa.

In the framework, a panel of experts was brought together to discuss the topic of economic and social integration: African mobility, with a focus on urban mobility.

On his part, the Managing Director of Tractafric Motors Corporation, Dominique Hanotaux, hinted of discussions with the government to establish an assembly plant in the country.

“In our engagements with government, they have urged us to consider establishing a factory in the country to support development so as I speak to you now, that topic is currently laid on the table,” he said.

Present in 23 countries via a network of agencies and sub-distributors, the Tractafric Motors network offers individuals and professionals a wide range of solutions to their transportation needs in partnership with international manufacturers.

In Ghana, the group offers transportation solutions in partnership with Mercedes-Benz and Ford.