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10 Transporting into the future SPOTLIGHT 0456698 93707

 US: $5.00  UK: £3.00  Canada: C$4.00  Ghana: GH¢7.00  Nigeria: N250  Liberia: US$4.00  Sierra Leone: LE10,000  Gambia: Da80  South Africa: R24.95 Transporting Ghana into the future

Ghana’s transport minister, Dzifa Aku Attivor

As part of its transition from a lower middle- income country to full middle-income status, Ghana is aggressively positioning itself to become the transport hub of West Africa. In SPECIAL this 20-page Special Report, the minister for transport, Dzifa Aku Attivor, and the heads of REPORT the relevant transport sector agencies, take us through the massive developments going on in the sector. This is in fulfillment of President John Dramani Mahama’s promise of making Ghana the gateway not only to West Africa, but to the whole continent. Ghana: Implementing the government’s transport vision

technology. And just as air transport, The transport minister the government is improving Ghana is far ahead in terms of infrastructure says the government is pro- and modernizing its ports sec- viding an integrated network tor to keep up with the grow- than other lower middle-income African countries, in the country that makes ing demands of the but as the West African nation advances to middle- passenger travel as well as fast-expanding economy. freight transport efficient, Major expansion projects are income status, the government is upgrading and cost effective, affordable and, underway at the two harbors, expanding infrastructure, particularly in the perhaps most important, safe Tema and Takoradi, to in- and secure. Such a system, crease their capacities and transport sector, to meet current and future she says, will bolster Ghana’s also to ensure that both are reputation in becoming an im- being fully equipped to service demands as well as to establish the country as portant gateway to Africa. local and international ship- a safe gateway to the African market. The government is expand- pers. Soon congestion at the ing and developing the air- ports would be eased consid- transport infrastructure to erably, and the long lines of establish a more efficient and vessels at the ports would be

reliable, ef- ficient, cost- effective and modern transporta- tion“A system is required to fast track [Ghana’s] transition from a lower middle-income to a fully-fledged middle-income status. To this end we have, over the last few years, been putting in place the building blocks for reaching this goal,” said President John Mahama in his State of Nation address delivered early this year. “We have always been fond of referring to Ghana as the gateway to West Africa,” the president added, “but more and more it is looking like Ghana is becoming a gateway to the rest of Africa as well.” This, in essence, is the sum of the government’s transport as a transport hub of West user needs; 3) integrate land productive aviation industry a thing of the past. Already, vision, and the philosophy be- Africa.” use, transport planning, de- that will effectively compete clearance procedures of goods hind the transport-sector re- Thus, on the following velopment planning, and in the marketplace while pro- at the ports have been simpli- forms and construction pages, you shall see how the service provision and 4) cre- viding first-class service. The fied to prevent delays. currently going on in the government, via the Ministry ate a vibrant investment and country has one international Recognizing the importance country to make it an ideal of Transport and the relevant performance-based manage- airport, Kotoka, in , be- of maritime security to the place for investors. sector agencies, is implement- ment environment that maxi- sides other local airports. Sev- economy, the government has The vision, according to ing the government’s trans- mizes benefits for public and eral major international allocated the requisite re- Dzifa Aku Attivor, minister port vision, or trying to private sector investors. airlines fly there regularly. sources to protect its maritime for transport, is “to create an achieve the goals set by the vi- The other objectives are to Most of the country’s air- domain, in view of the rise of integrated, modally comple- sion. develop and implement com- transport market is interna- illegal activities, particularly mentary, cost-effective, safe, Overall, the vision contains prehensive and integrated tional. With the improved piracy. The completion of a secure, sustainable and seam- seven policy objectives. These policy, governance, and insti- safety and security of air Vessel Traffic Management less transportation system re- are: 1) establish Ghana as a tutional frameworks; ensure transport in the country, in- Information System (VTMIS) sponsive to the needs of transportation hub for the sustainable development in ternational and domestic pas- has put the Ghana Maritime society, supporting growth West African subregion; 2) the transport sector; and de- senger numbers have Authority in effective elec- and poverty reduction, and ca- create and sustain an efficient velop adequate human re- increased dramatically over tronic surveillance control of pable of establishing Ghana transport system that meets sources and apply new the past few years. the country’s maritime juris-

36 October 2014  Africawatch diction. buses from the government to The government has also augment its already impres- drawn up plans to develop the sive fleet of 1,017. An addi- railway network – track would tional 30 new buses will be be upgraded to standard- purchased by the company it- gauge, and new railway lines self to enhance the fleet. would be constructed. The On the luxury-travel side, Western Rail Line would be the Intercity STC Coaches rehabilitated as well as the Limited (ISTC) has by far the Suburban Rail Lines, includ- most ambitious plans to re- ing rolling stock, for Accra- create the glorious days of its , Takoradi-Kojokrom- past as a way of conquering Sekondi, and -Ejisu. the future than any other Also completed are the feasi- transport-related company or bility studies for the rehabili- agency in Ghana. In January tation of the Eastern and 2015, Minister Attivor says Central Lines, and the expan- the ISTC will take delivery of sion and construction of rail 45 brand new Scania luxury lines to northern Ghana. coaches bought by the govern- “Before the end of my first ment of Ghana, which, in one term [i.e., December 2016], fell swoop, will increase the Ghana will witness a revival ISTC’s current fleet size by of its railway transport serv- more than 125 percent and ice, carting export products to give it the wherewithal to im-

the ports and safely carrying plement some of the lofty commuters over various dis- ideas it has under its belt. tances,” the president prom- Overall, the prospects of the ised in his 2014 State of the transport sector are very Nation address. good. The massive develop- Minister Attivor says the ment going on in the sector government is committed to has raised Ghana’s investor the provision of reliable, safe attractiveness. And with its and efficient mass transport political stability, better eco- services by road in Ghana and nomic policies, and strong eco- the West African subregion. nomic growth, the country is In the next few months, she poised to become the regional says, passengers who use leader.  Metro Mass Transit (MMT) buses for their travels in the country will see expanded One of the major expansion works at Kotoka International Airport, service when the company the Southern Apron construction, is due to be completed this year. takes delivery of 200 new

Africawatch  October 2014 37 38 October 2014  Africawatch “There is a lot going on in the transport sector”, says Transport Minister Dzifa Aku Attivor. This includes plans to establish a new national airline on a public-private partnership basis. According to the minister, the country has leaned a lot of lessons from why the previous two national airlines, Ghana Airways and Ghana International Airlines, Ghana to get new failed. “And I can assure you that our govern- ment will not commit the same mistakes.” national airline Besides the new airline, there are plenty of expansion works going on in the aviation, railway and ports sub-sectors of the country’s transport sector. In this interview, Minister Attivor talks about some of the works.

Q: What would you say is A: Our transformation wide body aircraft and it is al- ground lighting to facilitate the philosophy behind agenda is designed to position most completed. night-flight operations. We your government’s trans- Ghana as the gateway to the also recently installed an in- port vision? continent. As such the presi- Q: And the Tamale Air- strument-landing system to A: Ghana is a lower-middle- dent is supporting my min- port is being turned into guide pilots when they are income country, and we are on istry to undertake rapid an international airport? coming to land, because the the threshold of reaching a full upgrade and expansion of the A: Yes. Work has already weather in Kumasi is very un- middle-income status. So country’s airports, particu- started on a $125 million proj- predictable. under the leadership of Presi- larly the Kotoka International dent John Mahama, the gov- Airport (KIA), and both Tema ernment has embarked on a and Takoradi harbors. We will “Air transport is one of the massive transformation pro- also rehabilitate and improve gram based on economic di- the railway system, and pro- cardinal points of our economic versification, macroeconomic vide a more efficient road growth, so we take aviation safety stability, social inclusion and transport service. job creation. President Ma- We have about 35 airlines seriously, and indeed it is one of hama also recognizes that bet- operating from, and flying the high priorities at the Ministry ter infrastructure, and more into, KIA on international and investment in the economic local routes, so we need to ex- of Transport.” sectors, particularly transport pand facilities there. The cur- where I am privileged to head, rent terminal building was will be crucial for our ambition built to take care of 500,000 ect to upgrade the Tamale Air- Q: Is it true as reported of achieving full middle-in- passengers per year, and right port into an international that another international come status. That is why you now the airport is doing about airport and the first phase of airport is planned for the see massive infrastructure 2 million passengers per year. extending the runway to ac- ? projects going on all over the So sometimes the airport is a commodate bigger aircraft, A: That is true. The govern- country. bit congested. That is why we and the installation of lighting ment has plans to build a new are refurbishing the facilities systems to facilitate take-off international airport at Q: What support is your there and expanding the air- and landing at night time, will Ningo-Prampram in the Dan- ministry getting overall port as a whole. Currently we be completed by September gbe West District of the from the central govern- are constructing among others next year. Greater Accra Region. Prelim- ment for the new projects? a southern apron for eight We are also working on the inary designs for the new in- . We are im- ternational airport have been proving and extending the done. The proposed annual Dzifa Attivor: “Our transformation agenda is designed runway. We are also installing passenger throughput is 4.5 to position Ghana as the gateway to the continent.” aeronautical lighting and million, and annual passenger

Africawatch  October 2014 39 aircraft movements is 33,835. capacity container vessels. adding new lines. But none It will also have 12-peak-hour At the Takoradi port, the ex- was able to do it. What is passenger aircraft movement, pansion works underway are your government’s railway and provision has been made geared toward developing the policy? for 13 apron stands. The new port to handle bulk commodi- A: We are exploring various airport is needed to ease the ties, including bauxite and avenues to totally revamp the pressure on the Kotoka Inter- manganese, and also to service railway network in the coun- national Airport, which is ex- the oil exploration and produc- try. The Ghana Railway De- periencing very high domestic tion companies in the Western velopment Authority (GRDA) and international traffic. Region. Works underway at is the agency in charge of pro- the port include breakwater moting, developing and main- Q: Is the government construction, channel dredg- taining the rail infrastructure thinking about establish- ing to allow deeper ships to and rail services in the coun- ing a new national airline, enter, and the provision of try. after the failure of Ghana sites for bulk terminal and GRDA and other stakehold- Airways and Ghana Inter- other facilities. The expansion ers are working on a railway national Airlines? work will facilitate more ton- improvement plan that will A: Yes, we have plans to es- nage, especially as the activi- see to the rehabilitation of rail- tablish a new national airline ties of oil and mining way lines in the country. The on a public-private partner- companies in the area in- private sector is most welcome ship basis. We have leaned a crease. to partner with the govern- lot of lessons about why the ment to revitalize the rail sec- country’s two airlines, Ghana Q: Piracy has been in- tor. Airways and Ghana Interna- creasing in West African The three main railway tional Airlines, failed, and I waters in the last decade. lines are the Western, Eastern can assure you that our gov- What is the situation in and Central, and they are in ernment will not commit the Ghana’s territorial waters, poor condition. So far some same mistakes. We are in the and what is the govern- tracks have been upgraded to process of looking for a serious Minister for Transport Dzifa Attivor (R) explains a point ment doing to combat such standard-gauge specifications, private partner for the cre- to President John Mahama during an inspection tour of crimes? and some lines extended. ation of the new national air- Kumasi Airport. A: As you know, cases of Some of the stations between line, and my ministry has piracy have increased in the Accra and Tema have been re- received several proposals Gulf of Guinea, but we don’t habilitated with modern facil- from private airline compa- have any threats of piracy in ities. nies. that provide air navigation tion of all. Ghana’s waters. Our waters We have bought two new We have signed a memoran- services within the Accra Q: And what can you say are very safe. Recently Presi- diesel passenger trains, each dum of understanding (MOU) Flight Information Region, about the ports and har- dent Mahama inaugurated with three passenger carriages with PricewaterhouseCoopers that is the airspace over bors of Ghana? What is Africa’s biggest Vessel Traffic and a 600-person capacity, to LLP and the World Bank to Ghana, and Benin and going on there? Management Information Sys- run two daily services on the provide us with technical advi- some areas over the Atlantic A: The ports in the country tem (VTMIS) at the Ghana Accra-Tema line, which began sory services and also to help operations in February 2013. us choose a reliable partner to take a majority stake in a new “President Mahama recognizes that better Q: But that is about national airline by the end of intra-city services? next year. This would be our infrastructure, and more investment in the economic A: Yes. As part of the Presi- third attempt at running a na- sectors, particularly transport, will be crucial for dential Priority Projects tional airline, so we are very scheme, we are also construct- cautious. This time around the our ambition of achieving full middle-income status. ing a suburban line from Tako- private investor would play a That is why you see massive infrastructure projects radi to Sekondi via Kojokrom leading role. We are very opti- in the Western Region. mistic about the success of the going on all over the country.” In terms of cost and effi- new airline. ciency, it is far better to ship commodities like cocoa and Q: How seriously does Ocean. are also undergoing massive Maritime Authority. bauxite through rail lines, to your ministry take avia- At all times, we ensure that expansion, as never seen be- It has a long-range identifi- avoid increasing congestion tion safety? the implementation of safety fore, to boost their capacity to cation and tracking system of and wear and tear on our road A: As you know, air trans- oversight in the country meets keep up with increasing vol- about 1,000 nautical miles. It links. port is one of the cardinal international standards. umes of cargo as our economy is one of the best out there, So we are going to bring the points of our economic growth, I guess you have heard re- grows. We are carrying out ex- and that is what we use in once-vibrant railway sector so we take aviation safety se- ports that Togo and Benin pansion works at Tema in five clearing our water of piracy, back on track. riously, and indeed it is one of have requested autonomy phases, to ease congestion and drug trafficking and related As you can see, there is a lot the high priorities at the Min- from Ghana in the manage- reduce wait times. crimes. Ghana’s waters are going on in the transport sec- istry of Transport. ment of their airspace. There Phase 1 involves construct- the safest on the continent be- tor in terms of infrastructure We have tremendously en- is no tension between us over ing breakwater, dredging to cause we have never let our development to help boost eco- hanced safety in our skies this issue, as some reports specified depths and creating guard down. nomic growth and fast track through the installation of suggest. There are talks going quay wall foundation trenches. the country’s transition to full modern air-navigation sys- on at the highest level of gov- There is also reclamation to Q: Several past govern- middle-income status, as the tems, and capacity building at ernment of the three coun- build new terminal areas, as ments have talked about president promised in his the Ghana Civil Aviation Au- tries, and the issue will be well as building five new revamping the country’s State of the Nation address thority (GCAA), the company resolved soon to the satisfac- berths to accommodate high- rail network and even early this year. 

40 October 2014  Africawatch Civil Aviation: Keeping Ghana’s skies safer

The Ghana Civil Aviation Authority’s technical and operational record over the past years speaks for itself. But to make Ghana’s skies even safer, new and better air navigation equipment and Abdulai Alhasan, acting director-general of GCAA technology are being installed in Accra and elsewhere.

s Ghana’s airports (ILS) for Accra and Kumasi Company Limited. The proj- are rehabilitated has been completed, at a cost ect period is 2015-16. and expanded, and of $969,000 and $1 million re- The current developments air travel in- spectively. Both are awaiting are music to the ears of the creases, so do the GCAA, whose mission is “to responsibilitiesA of the Ghana provide safe, secure, efficient Civil Aviation Authority and effective aviation regula- (GCAA). There cannot be any tion and air navigation serv- escalation in air transport ices in a professional and without a corresponding rise environmentally responsible in air navigation services. manner.” Which makes the job of the The GCAA’s vision is to be GCAA even more onerous, and vital. As a result, air navigation

“a world class aviation regu- services are being totally re- lator and air navigation serv- vamped in the country via ices provider.” massive improvements in the As such, the acting direc- GCAA’s equipment and capa- tor-general says GCAA’s bility. training school, the Aviation “We are working hard to calibration, before coming on Academy, is being extended keep our skies safe,” says Ab- stream. at a cost of $12 million to pro- dulai Alhasan, acting direc- A Wide Area Multilatera- vide more space and better tor-general of GCAA, the tion (WAMLAT) and an Air conditions for academic work agency tasked with ensuring Traffic Control Management that would bring even more traffic in the nation’s airports System are also being in- improvements to the GCAA. and providing air navigation stalled, at a cost of $5 million. The Academy’s extension services within the Accra And that is only Phase 1. The project started in October Flight Information Region project is expected to be com- 2012 and will finish in De- (FIR), which comprises the pleted in 2015. cember 2014. airspace over Ghana, Togo In addition, a modern Air The director-general says and Benin and a large area Traffic Navigation Service the high number of airlines over the Atlantic Ocean in the Center is to be built at the doing business in Ghana and Gulf of Guinea. “GCAA’s tech- cost of $35 million (including a number of others that are nical and operational record equipment). The feasibility undergoing certification to over the past years speaks for studies and design are al- begin operations in the coun- Aerodrome Controllers at the Air Traffic Control Tower at itself,” he adds. ready completed. The project try are a testimony of how Kotoka International Airport, in Accra. The installation of two new is waiting for site location safe and secured Ghana’s air- Instrument Landing Systems from the Ghana Airports space is. 

Africawatch  October 2014 41 Ghana’s airports undergoing massive facelift

Air travel in Ghana will be a very enjoyable pursuit when the Ghana Airports Company Limited (GACL) finishes all the ongoing and proposed projects meant to give the country’s airports a Charles Asare, acting massive facelift. managing director of GACL

orever patient, air refurbishment of the arrival deadline. Phase 2, the arrival of x-ray screening equipment. Similarly, the Air- travelers in Ghana hall at Terminal 2 (due to fin- facilities of Terminal 2 being The others are installing port will get a facelift. Its run- have grown accus- ish in 2015) and Terminal 3, fully expanded and refur- apron Aviation Guiding Lights way and apron will be tomed to crammed expected to be completed in bished, was also completed a (AGL), reconstructing taxiway rehabilitated at a cost of $40 spaces and second- 2016, at a cost of $250 million, year before its deadline, which and apron pavements, rehabil- million. The work will start in rateF facilities at the country’s will bring vast improvements was November 2015. itating the runaway touch- March 2015. airports, but all that is going that will dramatically change The addition of another new down zone, and constructing So also will the Wa Airport to change in the next year or the face of KIA. terminal at KIA, the proposed 17 apron parking stands for runway and security fence be two. Travelers using Kotoka In one fell swoop, the two Terminal 3, will eat up a good mix-fleet aircraft, at a cost of rehabilitated. International Airport (KIA) in new terminals will wipe away portion of the current passen- $45 million for the latter. Accra will be the most pam- the current overcrowded ger traffic at the airport and Future development pered when the Ghana Air- spaces of the airport and give clear crammed conditions at Regional airports ports Company Limited passengers using the nation’s the airport. Funding requirements for (GACL) completes two passen- leading airport something to The technical and financial The Kumasi airport is also what the GACL calls “future ger terminals at the country’s smile about. proposals for Terminal 3 were getting a facelift. The runway development” come to a cool premier airport. Equally, passengers using submitted on Oct. 7, 2014. The will be extended from 6,500 $564.9 million, made up of: 1) Making Ghana’s airports regional airports in Kumasi, estimated cost is $250 million. feet to 8,200 feet, at a cost of multistorey parking garage at not only safe and efficient, but Tamale, Wa, Sunyani and Funding will come from exter- $40 million. The project will KIA, $35.3 million; additional downright pleasant to experi- Takoradi will see vast im- nal sources, and the project is begin in September 2015. apron for Code A, B, C, $45 ence, is the goal that the provements as the GACL is re- expected to be completed by New apron AGL are also million; construction of Termi- GACL is working toward, says habilitating and expanding all December 2016. being installed, and the cur- nal 3 at KIA, $250 million; ex- its acting managing director, of them, including terminal rent small terminal building pansion of Terminal I at KIA, Charles Asare. He wants to buildings and runaways. Ongoing projects at KIA in Kumasi will be expanded $30 million; expansion of Ku- make sure that the airports and refurbished. The airport, masi terminal building, $8 can handle not only the Big changes in Accra Besides Terminals 2 and 3, like all the regional airports in million; Kumasi apron and largest and most state-of-the the projects currently under- the country, is also getting runway upgrade, $62 million, art aircraft, but also provide Starting in Accra, under the way at the KIA include: 1) the new x-ray screening equip- and Sunyani apron and run- the people who use them with KIA Development Phase III, construction of a southern ment installed. way upgrade, $75 million. the best possible service. the arrival hall of Terminal 2 apron for eight wide-body air- Like Kumasi Airport, the The other projects include Asare, who came on board has been given a facelift. craft, due to be completed this regional airport at Tamale is runway overlay at KIA, $20 only in September, sees his Phase 1 of that work, expan- year; 2) installation of baggage also being upgraded and ex- million; procurement of three agency’s mission as upgrading sion of the immigration and handling and screening sys- tended. Both the runway and crash rescue fire tenders, $6.3 Ghana’s airports into world- baggage claim halls, com- tems; 3) re-roofing of terminal terminal building will be ex- million; construction of KIA’s class facilities. Expansion and pleted before its Nov. 30, 2014 buildings; and 4) installation panded and rehabilitated. apron, $20 million; KIA outer

42 October 2014  Africawatch The expansion of Terminal 2 arrival hall at  Kotoka International airport is going on as scheduled.

The construction of a southern apron for eight  wide-body aircraft at Kotoka International Airport is almost completed.

perimeter fencing, $3.3 mil- foresight of the GACL. lion, expansion of sewage For all airports in the coun- treatment plant at KIA, $1.5 try, Asare says, modern equip- million; ducting and reinstal- ment, including security x-ray lation of AGL cable at KIA, $4 machines, is a high priority, million; fire detection system because passengers and per- at KIA, $3 million; rehabilita- sonnel need to feel that air tion of Wa runway and secu- travel is safe. rity fence, $1.5 million. Grand “We also label our excellent total: $564.9 million. services at the airports as The GACL also proposes to SAFE: S, for safe and secure; develop new aerodromes at E is efficiency; R is reliability; Ho, , Bolgatanga, and V is for visibility,” the Koforidua and New Takoradi managing director says.  airports, even as it looks for public private partnership (PPP) investors to build a multi-story parking garage at KIA estimated to cost $35 mil- President John lion. An airline office complex, Mahama, on board an and a freight-forwarders office excavator, breaks the complex will also be con- ground for the start of structed under PPP. work on the upgrading Overall, there are happy and expansion of the days ahead for Ghana’s vari- into an ous airports, thanks to the international airport.

Africawatch  October 2014 43 Ghana Ports: Embracing the future

Ghana’s ports and harbors are undergoing a major transformation that will put the country on the world maritime stage. As a result, the Ghana Ports & Harbors Authority (GPHA) is embracing the future by providing the most efficient maritime services within the West African subregion.

ith an eye to fic going up, from 1.2 million ments, the GPHA has com- tended. The hospital will have the future, es- tons in 2003 to nearly 2 mil- pleted an E-Gate Project in- five surgical theaters, a med- pecially to meet lion tons in 2013. volving the installation of ical gas plant, a morgue, an the demands of Similarly, export traffic CCTV and OCR systems, cost- ICU, an the growing through Tema and Takoradi ing $4.9 million. accident/trauma/emergency Weconomy, the Ghana Ports & has been growing, from 3.3 Two tug boats, the T.T Addy unit, CT-scan, MRI, etc. It has Harbors Authority (GPHA) is million tons in 2003 to 5 mil- and the V.A Owusu-Ansah, been in the works since No- giving the country’s harbors a lion in 2013. have also been acquired, at a vember 2012. new lease on life. Both the Exports out of Takoradi in- cost of almost $9 million, in To decongest and enhance Tema and Takoradi harbors creased from 2.5 million tons addition to security patrol conditions at the Tema port, are being extended and ex- in 2003 to 3.5 million tons in boats at a cost of $2.8 million. the GPHA is developing a panded to take in the in- 2013. Tema saw export traffic To improve services further, Transit Truck Village (TTV) at creased traffic expected in the increasing from 809,589 tons cargo handling equipment, Ashiaman, with a capacity of future. in 2003 to 1.5 million tons in worth $23 million, has been parking 800 trucks plus other Already, the country’s im- 2013. procured by the GPHA, while vehicles. When completed, the port traffic through the Tema If this trend continues, the Richard Anamoo, a further $8 million has been Ashaiman TTV will take much and Takoradi ports has been two ports will need expanded director-general of GPHA spent on reachstackers, fork- of the traffic away from the al- increasing year after year. In spaces to cover the increased lifts, Mafi tractors and trail- ready existing TTV at the the decade from 2003 to 2013, traffic volume. And that is ex- ers. Tema port proper, which has a it grew from a total 7 million actly what Richard A.Y. To look after the health of capacity of 280 trucks plus tons in 2003 to 12 million tons Anamoo, director-general of the maritime men and women other vehicles. in 2013. GPHA, says the government is The Tema port who are the backbone of the The GPHA is also develop- Breaking it down to the in- doing. Tema port, a 130-bed, $5.5 ing a Reefer terminal at the dividual ports, Tema saw “Under the leadership of Built in 1962, the Tema port million Maritime Hospital, Tema port. Pavement struc- nearly 5.5 million tons of im- President Mahama, we are un- is now seeing various expan- built by the China State Hua- ture works, costing $500,000, ports coming through in 2003 dertaking a number of major sion and extension projects long Construction Co. Ltd., are 90 percent completed. The but more than 10 million tons projects, expansion of the ports going on, which, when com- under contract from the electrical installations, light- in 2013. and the modernization of some pleted in the next two years, GPHA. The hospital, three- ing, substations and generator Takoradi is principally an of the old structures, including will enhance service delivery quarters completed, was sets for the project, worth $2.2 export-oriented port, but even security improvements,” the at Ghana’s premier port. slated to be finished this year, million, are also 90 percent Takoradi has seen import traf- director-general says. As part of the improve- but that deadline may be ex- completed. Installation of

44 October 2014  Africawatch Top: An aerial view of Tema port. Left: The construction of a bulk-cargo-handling jetty going on as part of the expansion of the Tema port.

Africawatch  October 2014 45 Minister for Transport Dzifa Attivor and the director-general of the GPHA, Richard Anamoo, brief President John Mahama on the progress of breakwater dredging construction at the Takoradi port.

Reefer racks, costing almost cost $180 million. dredged at a cost of $1.95 mil- burgeoning oil industry to the dredged material to the $2 million, is 30 percent com- An upgrade of five miles of lion. cater to, Takoradi is undergo- reclamation area. pleted. When finished, it will the Tema-Accra Motorway to In the near future, the ing a major facelift to prepare have a capacity of 800 tons. Harbour Road in Tema will GPHA intends to establish a it for the expected increased Fishing harbor A geotech, bathymetric and also be done, at an estimated GPHA/STC Training Institute traffic that the oil industry is sub-bottom survey has been cost of $120 million. At least to train tomorrow’s marine likely to bring. The Sekondi Fishing Har- done to guide future develop- two interchanges will be con- men and women. The aim is to Already breakwater dredg- bor will also be expanded, at a ment of the Tema port. Al- structed on the Motorway- train and certify technicians ing works are underway. More cost of $19 million. The project ready, the construction of a Tema Port stretch. The and engineers for tomorrow’s than 3,600 feet of the main is being sponsored by the bulk cargo-handling jetty is Meridian Road and sections of needs. breakwater has been com- Japan government’s interna- underway, at a cost of $122.1 tional development agency, million. It will be 1,300 feet JICA. long and 165 feet wide. Con- “Our ports and harbors are undergoing a The work includes a lay-by struction started in November major transformation that will put Ghana wharf, an access road to the 2012 and is expected to be boats beach with canoe- completed by November 2015. on the world maritime stage.” berthing facilities, a fish mar- As part of Phases 1-2 of the ket shed, fuel dumps, an port’s expansion, the construc- Hospital Road – all in Tema – The institute will use simu- pleted. Also underway is the administration block and a 30- tion of a 52-foot draft and a will also see major upgrades. lators to produce crane opera- construction of 2,600 feet of lee ton-a-day ice-making plant. A 4,600-foot quay will start in The expansion project at tors, forklift operators, breakwater. The job is being water-supply facility will also the first quarter of 2015. Tema also involves the recon- reach-stacker operators, mo- done by a Belgian contractor, be provided. In total, the Tema port ex- struction of the existing Net bile crane operators, offshore Jan de Nul NV, at a cost of Although the expansion of pansion project is estimated to Mending Wharf to cover a platform operators, tractor $251 million. It is expected to the ports is expensive, the di- cost $1.5 billion. This includes length of 426 feet and a width and vehicle drivers and tug- be completed in September rector-general of GPHA says access roads and up to 250 of 41 feet, at a cost of $1 mil- boat and pilot launch opera- 2016. it’s necessary to position acres of terminal, STS cranes, lion. It is expected to be com- tors. Dredging at the port is Ghana as a strategic hub in etc. pleted in December 2014. scheduled to start in Novem- the maritime industry. Feasibility studies and de- The project involves the re- Takoradi port ber. Geotechnical investiga- “Our ports and harbors are sign of access roads have been pair of the wharf and break- expansion works tions have indicated two types undergoing a major transfor- done, and a draft report has water, the provision of solar of materials to be dredged: mation that would put Ghana been presented for the major lighting and a re-surfaced The Takoradi port is not sandstone and mudstone. on the world maritime stage,” access roads to the port, in- driveway to the fish-market being left out by the GPHA. Both floating and submerged says Anamoo. “We are also en- cluding a new 7.5-mile dedi- area. The nearby Canoe Basin Being the nation’s export gate- pipelines will be laid from the suring that we provide effi- cated highway to be built at a has already been cleaned and way, which now has Ghana’s dredging vessel to discharge cient services at the ports.” 

46 October 2014  Africawatch Protecting Ghana’s maritime domain

With the installation of new electronic surveillance equipment and enhanced personnel efficiency, the Ghana Maritime Authority (GMA) is now in effective surveillance control of the country’s maritime jurisdiction.

he Ghana Maritime surveillance of Ghana’s mar- Authority (GMA) is itime domain. the regulatory body It will also protect the coun- mandated to ensure try’s maritime resources (in- maritime safety and cluding offshore installations, security,T maritime environ- oil terminals and gas ment protection and efficient pipelines), and check unlawful A GMA official monitors shipping services in the coun- maritime activities such as the VTMIS from the try. Its main objective is to en- piracy and armed robbery, and vessels flying Ghana’s flag identify boats to be con- control room to keep sure that there is effective illegal, unreported and unreg- from anywhere in the world, structed for the GMA. surveillance over legislation in place to regulate ulated (IUU) fishing and other as well as reports of ships Ghana’s waters. the maritime industry. maritime crimes. passing through the country’s Office building As such, the GMA is deter- The VTMIS is an important maritime domain. mined to collaborate with the maritime security tool that The LRIT further allows the Another pressing need for Ministry of Transport to en- will also help the GMA repress GMA and other stakeholders 49.2 foot Interceptor Patrol the GMA is office accommoda- sure the passage a Maritime any other unlawful maritime to obtain enhanced awareness Craft, Buoy Tender Work- tion, as there has been an ex- Pollution Bill, regulations to activity and environmental of developments in Ghana’s boats, and 32.8 foot crafts for pansion in the Authority’s license ship-manning agencies degradation within Ghana’s maritime domain and to be lake, and sea/offshore opera- mandate due to the discovery in the country, inland water- maritime jurisdiction. able to track both domestic tions. of oil and gas in Ghana’s mar- ways regulations and new reg- The GMA was responsible and foreign vessels 1,000 nau- For some time, the GMA itime jurisdiction. ulations to incorporate the for implementing the local tical miles away from Ghana. has been involved in discus- This development has led to global Manila Amendments to component aspect of the sions with a number of compa- an increase in vessel traffic the Certification and Watch- VTMIS project as directed by Procurement of boats nies, and it was part of a and a corresponding increase keeping for Seafarers (STCW) the Contract Agreement. technical team, led by the in the demand for PSC officers Convention into Ghana’s do- This included the procure- As electronic surveillance is Ministry of Transport, that and ship inspectors in general mestic legislation. ment of a work boat to service incomplete without boots on last year inspected some boats by the GMA. There is there- With the completion and and maintain the hydro- the ground (or, in this case, in the U.K. with a view to fore a compelling need for of- commissioning by President buoys, the purchase of hydro- boots on the sea and inland procuring them for the GMA. fice accommodation for GMA John Mahama of a Vessel logical buoys for weather waterways), there is the need However, the identified boats staff. To solve the problem, the Traffic Management Informa- observation, the payment of to complement the electronic were very expensive. GMA has already acquired a tion System (VTMIS) for the satellite fees for both the surveillance system with The GMA is thus still look- land title, and engineering GMA in April, the Authority is Global Maritime Distress and physical patrols for enhanced ing for the best offer on the drawings and bill of quantities now in effective electronic sur- Safety System (GMDSS) and security measures, especially market. It is currently in dis- have been prepared for a new veillance control of Ghana’s Long Range Identification and for port control and inspection cussions with Osprey Interna- head office building. Funding maritime jurisdiction. Tracking (LRIT) system of the of ships that call at the coun- tional Ltd and its South arrangements are currently The VTMIS project (funded VTMIS, and payment for the try’s oil sites at the Jubilee African partner, Nautic South being sought from banking by a Finnish concessional loan allocation of transmission fre- Fields and at anchorages, for Africa, which owns a boatyard syndicates to obtain a loan fa- of $21.7 million and $6 million quencies and bandwidths. maritime search and rescue in South Africa. Some of the cility. The GMA will also use counterpart domestic facility) The LRIT system is a key operations, and for safety en- boats there meet GMA’s crite- part of its internally generated is a state-of-the-art system de- component of the VTMIS, forcement on the Volta Lake. ria, and arrangements have funds to support the project, signed to provide a compre- which allows the GMA to re- As a result, the GMA has been made for a GMA team to which is expected to com- hensive and continuous ceive position reports from been looking into acquiring visit Nautic’s boatyard and mence in 2015. 

Africawatch  October 2014 47 Ghana Railways will rise again

The Ghana Railway Development Authority (GRDA) is geared up for greater things in the next two years. The existing but decayed rail network will be rebuilt while completely new lines will be added to connect the whole country, from north to south, east to west.

A newly constructed Railway Station Building at Community 1, Tema.

ive railway projects are to be completed in 2016 under the Presidential Prior- ity Projects scheme. TheF Ghana Railway Develop- ment Authority (GRDA) is in charge of the projects and is keen to complete them on schedule, all things being equal, says the chief execu- tive of GRDA, Alidu A. Sadique. The projects include the construction of the Takoradi- Sekondi via Kojokrom subur- ban railway line. It will cost $165,577,267. Construction work is ongoing and is about 35 percent complete. The letter of credit for the New Diesel Multiple Units (NDMUs) to be procured as part of the project is yet to be established, however. This is

A renovated Tema Harbor Railway Station.

48 October 2014  Africawatch President John Mahama inspects a new rail line. He has pledged to restore Ghana’s rail transport to its former glory.

likely to cause a delay in the things stand now, work on the 2016 deadline of this project services; hold, administer and and encourage studies neces- manufacturing of the NDMUs. Western Railway Line is likely may not be met. improve the railway assets of sary for the growth and devel- Two existing locomotives to overshoot the 2016 dead- The fifth project is the the country; and promote the opment of railways, including and six coaches will, however, line. Tema-Akosombo Railway development and manage- the development of master be rehabilitated, while modern The third of the five projects Line, part of the Eastern Cor- ment of suburban railways. plans and set standards 5) signaling and a telecom sys- is the redevelopment of the ridor Multi-Modal Transport To achieve these objects, oversee the administration of tem will be provided. Eastern Railway Line and the System. Funds are being GRDA was tasked with grant- a Railway Development Fund Two new station buildings Boankra Inland Port. sourced from the Exim Bank ing licenses, concessions, and and ensure that the fund is on the line will be constructed, The GRDA has already en- of India for the construction of leases necessary for the oper- used for the purposes set out while another two will be ren- gaged a transaction advisor, the Line. Though part of the ation of railways and railway in the Act 6) ensure collabora- ovated and four halts erected. and a strategic investor is Presidential Priority Projects services, and performing other tion with other public, private The project’s completion date being sought to partner with to be completed by 2016, work related functions, including or international agencies nec- was extended by 12 months to the government in the con- on this line also is likely to keeping a register of railway essary for the performance of April 2015. struction of the Eastern Rail- overshoot the deadline. operations, licensees and sub- its functions 7) advise the gov- The second of the five proj- way Line to link the Boankra licensees. ernment on railway matters ects is the Western Railway Inland Port. It is expected to GRDA, the regulator In addition, its functions are generally 8) subject to Section Line. The China Development reach financial closure by the to: 1) exercise ownership 98, carry out any transitional Bank (CDB) funding for the end of 2015. Here again, from The above projects and oth- rights over assets that are function that is necessary for Kojokrom-Awaso section of the where things stand now, work ers make the GRDA a very transferred to the Authority the growth and sustainability line has been canceled. Funds on this line is likely to go be- busy place indeed. The Au- from the Ghana Railway Com- of railways, and other activi- are therefore being sourced yond the 2016 deadline. thority was established under pany Limited 2) set and en- ties incidental to its functions, from the Brazilian govern- The fourth rail project the Railway Act 2008, Act 779, force safety and security and 9) subject to ministerial ment for the development of under the Presidential Prior- which was passed by Parlia- standards for the construction directives, perform the func- the Kojokrom-Awaso section. ity Projects is the development ment on Nov. 14, 2008, and re- and operation of railways in tions of a railway regulator. The GRDA is further ex- of tram services in the Accra- ceived presidential assent on accordance with the Act 3) reg- ploring the possibility of pub- Tema Metropolis. A feasibility Jan. 6, 2009. ulate and monitor the activi- Railway Master Plan lic private partnership (PPP) study will soon be carried out The objects of the Authority ties of licensees, concession- options for the Dunkwa-Ku- for the possible introduction of are to promote the develop- aires and operators of railway Since coming into existence, masi section. From where the tram services. Again, the ment of railways and railway 4) initiate, conduct, promote the GRDA has concentrated

Africawatch  October 2014 49 A newly completed section of the Sekondi-Kojokrom rail line.

on getting the railway regula- was started in 1926 and com- joining the Akosombo-Yendi of four semi-automatic barrier and Maintenance Standards tory structure and a Railway pleted in 1956, a year before line at Yendi. arm mechanisms at the entry (RSMS). A draft final report of Master Plan for the country in Ghana’s independence. The suburban rail network to the Tema port, Ghacem fac- the RSMS has been submit- place. The GRDA’s new Railway in the Tema-Accra-Nsawam tory, Ghafco and Sahara Oil ted, and comments have been Its collaboration with the Master Plan proposes to ex- metropolis will also be ex- tank farm; 3) construction of a forwarded to JICA. The GRDA Ministry of Transport and the pand the existing network panded. new station building at Com- is awaiting the final report. World Bank led to the prepa- from Prestea to Cote d’Ivoire, An existing line from Accra munity 1 with a parking lot, ration of Railway Regulations and from Awaso through the to Nsawam will be rehabili- turnstiles, fencing and CCTV The way forward that enabled the GRDA to ful- western parts of the country tated, and a new line will be cameras. fill its mandate. all the way through the Brong built from Tema through Besides that, other projects “The GRDA is keen to com- Marketing the Railway Ahafo Region to Hamile in the Accra to Kasoa, and another under the GRDA to be com- plete the preparation of all Master Plan as a means of Upper West Region. from Accra to Dodowa. pleted by 2016 include the con- regulations and organization sourcing funds and mapping A new line is proposed to Yet another new line will struction of semi-automatic structure to enable it to fulfill up strategies toward securing start from the twin-cities of start from Tema to Nsawam barrier arm level crossing its mandate,” says Sadique. PPP options is now a major Sekondi/Takoradi along the via the northern environs of mechanisms along the Accra- “The Authority will continue concern of the GRDA. coast to Cape Coast through Accra, meeting the Accra- Tema rail line – 10 mecha- with the preparation of the The Master Plan provides Winneba to Accra, then to Dodowa line on the way and nisms are to be installed at Railway Safety and Mainte- for the expansion and rehabil- Aflao and Togo. going on to join the existing major level crossings along the nance Standards, while re- itation of the country’s exist- Also from Accra, a new line Accra-Nsawam line. route to reduce accidents. The cruiting more staff and ing railway network, which is will go through Akosombo and project, to be completed in De- pursuing the acquisition of now part of the Presidential thence through the Volta Re- Other projects cember 2015, will cost permanent head office accom- Priority Projects, to be com- gion up to Yendi in the North- $1,388,418. modation.” pleted by 2016. ern Region, and then veer The GRDA, according to According to Chief Execu- The rehabilitation of the The existing railway net- right to Togo. Chief Executive Alidu tive Alidu Sadique, the Public Accra-Nsawam Railway Line work consists of three main Aanother new line will start Sadique, has also been reno- Procurement Authority has will remain a major focus for lines. The Western Line from from Kumasi through Tamale vating the railway facilities at given approval for the sole the GRDA in the coming year, Takoradi to Kumasi (with to the Upper East Region and the Tema harbor. Four sta- sourcing of the project to even as feasibility studies on branch lines to Prestea and onward to . tions on the line – Asopro- Amandi Holdings since 2013. the Central Railway Line and Awaso in the Western Region) And From Kumasi, another chona, Batchona, Achimota However, budgetary con- other lines per the Railway is the oldest in the country. It new line would go through and Odaw – are now 95 per- straints have delayed the Master Plan continue. was started in 1898 and was Sunyani to meet a line that bi- cent complete, with parking award of the contract. Other priority projects in completed in 1903. sects the country from East to lots, CCTV cameras, turn- The GRDA has also been en- the coming year will be pro- The Eastern line from Accra West, passing through Fu- stiles, fencing and public ad- gaged in the preparation of viding fencing along the Accra- to Kumasi is the second oldest, fulsu in the Northern Region dress systems installed. safety and training manuals Tema Railway Line, having been started in 1908 and meeting the new Awaso- Last year, the GRDA com- for safe operation and man- establishing a GRDA Legal and completed in 1923. The Hamile line at Sawla in the pleted the following projects: agement of trains in the coun- Department, upgrading the Central line from Huni Valley same Northern Region before 1) construction and extension try, with the help of the Japan Railway Location Workshop in in the Western Region to Ko- continuing to northern Cote work on the Tema harbor to International Cooperation Sekondi, and retooling and up- toku in the , d’Ivoire. Japan Motors Railway Line in Agency, which provided tech- grading the GRDA’s Railway with a branch line to Kade, is The eastern end of that line Tema Community 1, a dis- nical assistance for the prepa- Training School into an insti- the youngest in the country. It will go through Tamale before tance of two miles; 2) provision ration of the Railway Safety tute. 

50 October 2014  Africawatch The resolve to revive ISTC is paramount fleet of 36 coaches, the ISTC workshops. has a monthly average fleet  Engaging in the retail availability of 22. Interest- sale of products that the com- Intercity STC Coaches Ltd (ISTC) will soon increase its ingly, revenue from the 22 op- pany largely consumes, such erational coaches is supposed as tyres. current fleet size by more than 125 percent which will to pay the company’s 450  Operating a bulk tank help it to dominate the luxury end of road/passenger workers, purchase fuel and lu- service. bricants, pay for spare parts  Improving load factor and transport in the country, and implement an ambitious and utilities, and finance part market share through the use of the company’s indebtedness of aggressive marketing/ad- survival plan. that has accumulated over verts and reliable coaches. some years.  Improving cash flow and Whereas the industry ratio reduce loss. of staff to bus is 4:1, the ISTC  Enhancing its ability to has a staggering ratio of 21:1. attract financiers and banks to This is an albatross that the finance future projects within management intends to re- the next two years. solve by using various means  Listing on the Ghana n January 2015, the In- in groups, faster and to desti- Accra and Kumasi-Accra- to reduce the staff strength. Stock Exchange within 5 tercity STC Coaches nations that ISTC coaches Kumasi routes will resume Overall, the company plans years. Limited (ISTC) will currently do not serve. About full 24-hour services. to diversify its operations to As the company explains, take delivery of 45 100 minivans will be deployed Its international routes that include: “Our quest to diversify our op- brand new Scania lux- on local routes to perform the serve in Cote d’Ivoire,  Commercialization of its erations is to enable the bus Iury coaches bought by the gov- swift services. Lome in Togo, engineering workshops coun- operation to reach its peak, ernment of Ghana, which will The company will also in- in Burkina Faso and Cotonou trywide. where we could implement our increase its current fleet size crease operations on all its do- in Benin will also see re-  Inspection of vehicles for replacement policy to enable by more than 125 percent and mestic and international vamped operations. the Driver and Vehicle Licens- any bus purchased to pay for give it the wherewithal to im- routes, and its Accra-Kumasi- Out of the current nominal ing Authority (DVLA) in ISTC itself before it becomes scrap.” plement some of the lofty The diversification “has be- ideas it has under its belt. The come necessary in view of a company’s current fleet size is new paradigm of sophisticated 36 coaches; in January, it will clientele,” the company adds. be 81. From all indications, According to a company, the company is dying to re-cre- “Under the current managing ate the magic of the days of director and board of directors, yore, when it commanded all it the resolve to revive the ISTC surveyed in the luxury pas- is paramount. Therefore, sev- senger transport business in eral actions have been taken Ghana. in the last four months to en- Between now and January, sure the achievement of this however, the ISTC will con- goal. We shall soon unveil our tinue to partner with private- new vision and mission that vehicle owners who have been will be displayed at vantage providing it with coaches on a points across all our termi- 30:70 revenue-sharing basis. nals.” The company’s main aim The ISTC’s key corporate now is to recapture the posi- objective is to “proactively tion of the lead luxury trans- work to reclaim the top posi- porter in the country that it tion in the transport industry, occupied for so long, but that whilst sustaining such leader- it lost in the last decade. ship position for the next To achieve its aims, it has decade through hard work, put together ambitious plans dedication and turning round that will see it doing things the company into a profitable that it has never done in its and self-sustaining enter- history, just to get ahead. prise.”  Part of the deal will see the ISTC introducing a mini-bus Intercity STC Coaches Limited will soon introduce more luxury coaches, minivan “Swift Service,” and new routes. “Swift Service” and new routes for clients who want to travel

Africawatch  October 2014 51 Metro Mass, the shape of things to come

Metro Mass Transit is committed to the provision of a reliable, safe and efficient mass transport service by road in Ghana, and is keen to expand its services to become a world-class mass transport company in the West African sub-region.

n the next few months, inter-city, 40 percent intra- passengers who use city, and 32 percent rural- Metro Mass Transit urban. At the moment, it (MMT) buses for their operates 333 routes but has travels in Ghana will plans to expand them. Isee expanded service when Figures released for the the company takes delivery of company’s operations between 200 new buses from the gov- January and June this year ernment to augment its al- Noble John Appiah show profits climbing to $2 ready impressive fleet of managing director of MMT million from a total of 1,017. An additional 30 new 13,700,777 passengers carried buses will be purchased by the over the period under review. company itself to enhance the fleet. For example, a total of 200 Company’s vision In the recent past, the com- air-conditioned buses will be pany has not been able to use in use in Accra and Kumasi to According to Appiah, part of the full capacity of its fleet be- expand intra-city and peri- MMT’s vision is to offer free cause of the frequent break- urban services. The routes to bus service to school children down of buses, which has be operated have already been in accordance with the govern- meant that an average of only identified, and the bus redis- ment’s social service charter. 723 buses are in operation tribution program is already Between January and June daily. in place. this year, the company was But determined to improve With a staff strength of able to provide free service to its services and efficiency, the 4,271 (76 percent male and 24 23,592 school children. It Metro Mass Transit will soon take delivery of more buses company has rehabilitated 105 percent female), which puts hopes to better the record in from the government, and it promises its passengers a of the breakdown buses to the company within the indus- the coming months. more enjoyable experience. augment the operable fleet, try-required ratio of four em- On May 14 this year, the and is doing its best to bring ployees to one bus, the MMT is company launched a five-year the rest into service. committed to the provision of strategic plan whose high- mentally friendly practices, As such, its core values in- Noble John Appiah, manag- a reliable, safe and efficient lights included improving the and attaining International clude safety as a number one ing director of MMT, says that mass transport service by road safety of passengers and staff, Standard Organization (ISO) priority, respect for passen- when the 30 new buses are in not only in Ghana but also in improving customer service, certification. gers who use its buses, rooting operation, in addition to the the whole West African subre- expanding access to services, The company’s overall vi- out bad practices that under- rehabilitated 105, passengers gion. establishing a great work- sion, the managing director mine the future of the com- will enjoy a new experience Its target is to achieve an place, increasing profitability says, is to become a world- pany, and recognizing and much better than what they operational service classifica- and attaining financial sus- class mass transport company rewarding good performers have known in the past. tion in Ghana of 28 percent tainability, adopting environ- in the West African subregion. while being intolerant of poor

52 October 2014  Africawatch 100 percent complete; while at financially sustainable basis yani depots and the fencing of Cape Coast tents and chairs 3) sustain provision of free the company’s land in Wa at a are being used at the depot buses for school children 4) cost of $2.1 million. This is ex- premises. provide discounted fares for pected to be completed in the aged 5) acquire 400 new 2014-15. Helping customers buses 6) expand services to  The development of the cover international routes, pri- company’s head office building Customer help desks have marily to West African coun- at a cost of $280,000, to be also been established at the tries 7) start services in the completed in 2014-15. various depots, and customers luxury category 8) provide a  Development of the are encouraged to use the com- parcel service, and 9) run bus Hohoe hub and bus terminal pany’s toll-free hot line (080- services to every district in at $108,000, to be completed in 010-400) whenever possible. Ghana. 2014-15. Recently, the company or- By 2016, the company hopes  Development of the Techi- ganized customer-service to increase profitability and man hub and bus terminal at training for 1601 frontline attain financial sustainability, $108,000 to be completed in crew members, comprising while retooling its workshops 2014-16. 147 point officers, 157 inspec- to provide facilities and equip-  Development of residen- tors and 1,453 passenger serv- ment. tial accommodation at Can- ice assistants. To further improve effi- tonments (Accra) and Tamale, To provide entertainment ciency, it will deploy a Mi- costing $1.5 million. This is to on its buses and also generate crosoft dynamics GP be completed in 2015-17. revenue through advertise- supply-chain management  Acquisition and develop- ment, the company has in- system for procurement and ment of land at Kasoa for op- stalled 17 LCD screens in stores (including spare-parts erations, at a cost of $218,000. some buses. management), and implement This will be completed in As a means to increase its electronic ticketing. 2014-16. profitability and attain finan- During the same time, it  Redevelopment of the Ku- cial sustainability, the com- will acquire mobile service masi bus terminal at pany has also installed an vans that will work on break- $125,000, to be completed in ICT-based fuel management down buses in situ. 2014-15. system on 767 buses, and As part of the way forward, All said and done, the com- tracking devices on 528 buses. the company will also assess pany hopes to reduce the num- Additionally, it has installed the technical and financial fea- ber of road-traffic crashes by six biometric time and atten- sibility of providing or extend- 90 percent; reduce road traffic dance machines at its head of- ing value-added products such crash death incidents by 90 fice in Accra, and at its depots as a parcel service, driver percent; reduce road traffic in Cape Coast and Kumasi. It training school and cargo crash-related injuries by 90 has also outsourced cash col- bussing on high-cargo routes. percent, increase fleet avail- lection in Accra, Kumasi, Computerization of luggage ability to 90 percent, and re- Tamale and Takoradi. charges and the use of luggage duce inter-city bus breakdown To improve services further, scales will be implemented at en-route by 90 percent. it has developed fleet renewal the same time. The above targets are and a bus specification policy. achievable despite the follow- Overall, the company’s key Infrastructure ing some challenges facing the performance indicators are development company. The absence of dedi- ones. managers have been given impressive: It has reduced the cated bus lanes results in poor A recent review of its 2014 workplace health and safety number of road traffic crashes Regarding infrastructure schedule of services, and high operations highlighted the im- training. To improve quality of by 30.85 percent, reduced road development, the company has import charges, and the ever- provement of passenger and buses serviced, 21 workshop traffic crash deaths by 57 per- the following projects at vari- changing exchange rate of the staff safety as a paramount supervisors have also been cent, reduced road traffic ous stages of development, but cedi, affects the cost of im- priority. To this end, 1,705 trained. crash-related injuries by 52 they all have to be finished by ports. However, notwithstand- drivers have been re-trained The company has also em- percent, and increased fleet 2017: ing the challenges, Managing in collaboration with the Na- barked on bus terminal devel- availability to 71.06 percent.  Redevelopment of the Director Noble Appiah says tional Drivers Academy. opment countrywide as a way In the next two years, the Yendi hub at the cost of the company is determined to A further 2,677 employees of improving customer service, company aims to prioritize 1) $108,000, to be completed in achieve a reliable, safe and ef- have been trained on fire and says Noble Appiah. The termi- expansion of access to services 2015. ficient mass transport service safety, while 10 management nal at Aflao is now 80 percent 2) review, expand and opti-  Major rehabilitation of by road in the West African team members and 16 depot complete; the one at is mize intra city schedules on a Kumasi, Takoradi and Sun- subregion. 

Africawatch  October 2014 53 Safety is DVLA’s main concern Driving in Ghana will have a completely new face from now on as the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA) implements all the new provisions he Driver and Vehi- Autonomy cle Licensing Au- in the Road Traffic Regulations that fall under the thority (DVLA) is mandate of the Authority. Beckley says the DVLA is implementing major seeking operational autonomy reforms to ensure from government subvention safetyT on Ghana’s roads. As by the end of 2014. As such, it many as 34 new provisions engaged the services of a con- have been added to the exist- should be fitted with function- Mampong-Ashanti and sultant who interviewed key ing 160, and they are being ing seat belts in all required Obuasi. The pilot phase stakeholders of the Authority implemented over a three-year seating positions. Phase One started between February and and presented his findings to period, from 2013 to 2016. of the project started in Sep- August 2014, with full roll out the DVLA board, and senior The provisions in the Road tember 2014 and Phase Two beginning in October 2014. and middle management. Traffic Regulations (L.I. 2180) will start in June 2015. Other ongoing projects in- The Authority has met with now being implemented on a A third license plate, to be clude the expansion of the op- the responsible government priority basis included the in- pasted on the windshields of erations of Private Vehicle committee to discuss the troduction of electronic road- all vehicles (Regulation 12), Testing Stations (PVTS) in all measures for weaning off gov- worthy stickers throughout and the registration of trailers the regions to prove the road- ernment funding, as it is de- the DVLA offices countrywide (Regulation 4) are also being worthiness of vehicles. The termined to complete that by January 2015, and equip- implemented. The timelines DVLA authorized 13 investors process by December. ment-based testing for com- for both are 2014-15. to construct PVTS within the The DVLA is also imple- mercial vehicles. Under this, The development of driver country, and one was com- menting fraud-control meas- all commercial vehicles within in-yard test grounds is also pleted in 2013. The rest are at ures that started last year and the Greater Accra Region are underway. It started last year different stages of completion, will be completed in 2016. to benefit from equipment- and will be completed in 2016. Rudolph Beckley, with a 2014-15 deadline. Fraud, or “Goro activities,” by based testing at Private Vehi- The digitization of manual ve- chief executive of DVLA As part of the new meas- staff has been one of the cle Testing Stations (PVTS). hicle records has also been on- ures, the DVLA opened a new perennial challenges facing According to the DVLA’s going. It is being implemented office at BIVAC at Kuntunse the DVLA. This often results chief executive, Rudolph Beck- over a three-year period, be- applicants. (Accra) in April 2014 for the in the faking of DVLA’s docu- ley: “It is an established fact tween 2013 and 2016. The Authority is also estab- registration of vehicles. The ments and revenue leakage. that the successful develop- lishing mobile satellite offices expansion of the DVLA offices The Authority now wants to ment and prosperity of every More reforms countrywide to bring its serv- in Accra proper is also under- stamp out this practice economy in the world is de- ices closer to the people. Cur- way, as the number of vehicles throughout its offices country- pendent on an efficient trans- There are also reforms in rently being done on a pilot being registered keeps in- wide. port system. This can only be driver license administration. basis, the Authority has ex- creasing. Figures released for Other challenges facing the achieved if the necessary in- A manual for basic driver tended its operations through 2014 show the following regis- Authority include the diffi- frastructure and required training has been completed, its mobile satellite offices at trations: April, 286 cars; May, culty in obtaining financial services for all modes of trans- and a computer-based theory Hohoe, Nkawkaw, Tarkwa, 573; June, 585; July, 568; and clearance to recruit competent port are provided and main- test in all DVLA offices has August, 552. staff, and access to large tained on sustainable basis.” been introduced. parcels of land for acquisition The computer-based theory for the Authority’s operations, Safety is the goal test has been criticized by the especially in urban centers. As public, however, as Ghanaians if that is not enough, the Au- Therefore, Beckley says, the are not as computer literate thority’s own lands are also DVLA is committed to ensur- as, those in say, the U.S. being encroached upon. ing that driving in Ghana be- “We are not looking at com- Another major challenge is comes very safe, and vehicles puter literacy to be able to customer dissatisfaction with on the roads are worthy to be mount this stage,” the DVLA poor service delivery by the there, as part of the govern- chief explains. “Even if you DVLA. But Beckley says the ment’s goal of achieving better only use mobile phones, you Authority is now determined transport infrastructure de- are more than OK to take the to improve its services and will velopment for the accelerated test. That environment is so train all categories of staff, es- growth of the economy. user friendly we don’t even pecially client-services staff. As a result, under Regula- have a keyboard. All we have As part of the new deal, the tion 119 and 120 of the Road is a mouse and a screen. All DVLA will move into a mod- Traffic Regulations, concern- you do is to point to the right ern, purpose-built head office ing seat belts, the DVLA has answer and then click, and soon as it continues the con- started registration of com- that is all.” struction of new office accom- mercial vehicles with seat The DVLA has also intro- modations and other facilities belts. By June 2015, all regis- duced 48-hour mandatory DVLA plans to expand the operations of Private Vehicle in all the regions and districts tered commercial vehicles training for new driver license Testing Stations (PVTS) in the country. of the country. 

54 October 2014  Africawatch