TITLE: Urban Transport Policy Reform in Ghana
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Department For International 1 ) ~Development TITLE: Urban transport policy reform in Ghana by: E A Kwakye and P R Fouracre Transport Research Laboratory Crowthorne Berkshire RG45 6AU United Kingdom PA3383198 PA3383/98 KWAKYE, E A and P R FOURACRE. The urban transport policy reform in Ghana. CODATU VIII Conference, Cape Town, September 1998. The urban transport policy reform in Ghana Le reform de politique de ddplacements urbains A Ghana E.A.Kwakye Director (Planning), Ministry of Roads and Transport, Accra, Ghana P.R.Fouracre Urban TransportAdvisor, Ministry of Roads and Transport, Accra, Ghana ABSTRACT: To address Ghana's urban transport problems required policies and strategies which aim to meet broad objectives concerned with enhancing the effectiveness, efficiency and affordability of the urban transport sector, bearing in mind that the overall aim of its development is to contribute to the improvement in the quality of life of the community. A comprehensive package of measures was developed within this general framework, which came to be known as the Urban Transport Project (UTP). RESUMEt: Aborder les probl~mes de dfiplacements urbains au Ghana exigeait des politiques et des strategies qui visaient A atteindre les objectifs principaux concernant 1 anmelioration de 1 efficacitd, la competence et en tenant compte de 1 oljectif final de son dfiveloppement doit contribuer A une anmelioration de la qualitd de vie de la communaut6. Un dossier de m~sures approfondies a 6t conqu dans ce cadre de ces travaux qui a pris essor sous le nom de Proj et Transport Urbain (UTP). 1 INTRODUCTION under which powers and responsibilities are being devolved from the Central Government to the regional The purpose of an Urban Transport Policy is to Metropolitan and District Assembly administrative establish the means by which Government sets out to levels. It is anticipated that in the longer term the achieve its urban transport objectives in support of planning and development of urban transport in the national and urban development aims. country will be subjected to this process. 4. The high urban growth rate in the country is out- In general, the development of urban transport pacing the provision of services, and is taking place in takes place within the wider context of national and a largely unplanned manner, making it difficult to plan urban development. There are four aspects of this and programmne transport in harmony with urban which have an important impact on urban transport in development in the cities. Ghana, namely:- 1. The Economic Recovery Programme (ERP) The urban transport system in Ghana is launched in 1983, and followed by the Structural characterised by the congested central areas of the Adjustment Programme (SAP). This is putting cities, poor quality of service from public transport increasing emphasis on self-sufficiency, private operators, high exposure to road accidents, and poor enterprise and Government divestment of state-owned environmental standards. This is seen in long companies. This will leave Government's role to the commuting times and j ourney delays, lengthy waiting regulation and taxation of urban transport operators, times. for public transport both at and between and control of infrastructure investment and terminals, high accident rates, and localised poor air maintenance. quality. These have resulted from the following 2. The Government's Vision 2020 programme factors:- which seeks to build upon the foundations laid by the 1. Poor terminal or lorry-park organisation and earlier ERP, has the objective of raising Ghana to the management, which restricts the optimum use of the level of a middle-income country by 2020. available public transport capacity. 3. The Government's decentralisation programme, 2. The use of small vehicles for public E. A. Kwake, P. R. Fouracre 1 transportation, which contributes significantly to Century. Within this overall' framework, national congestion on the roads. transport policy is aimed at achieving the following: 3. The low affordability' threshold of the majority 1. Making transport operations safe, efficient and of the urban poor, who can only meet low public economically viable. transport tariffs. 2. Ensuring that transport services are effective and 4. Lack of funding (local and foreign) available to satisfy the needs of transport users. operators, who are thus unable to replace their existing 3. Ensuring sustained growth in the transport vehicle stock with more modem, efficient and industry through adequate investment. comfortable buses. 4. Strengthening the transport linkages with 5. The low capacity of the existing road network, neighbouring countries. and its inefficient use. 6. Poor planning and control procedures for land- In the urban context, these national transport use development, resulting in additional traffic objectives can be translated into the following specific congestion and safety hazards. objectives 7. The low standards of road traffic awareness, 1. Improving the accessibility of the urban vehicle maintenance, and driver behaviour, which community to places of residence, employment, contribute to the high accident rates, particularly education, leisure, shopping and other important amongst pedestrians and children. amenities. 8. The poor upkeep of vehicles which causes 2. Enhancing urban travel opportunities at excessive vehicular emissions. affordable cost for the less mobile, including the urban poor, non-vehicle owners, children, the elderly and the To address these urban transport problems handicapped. requires a strategy which aims to meet broad policy 3. Enhancing the quality of travel by ensuring objectives concerned with enhancing the comfort, safety and efficiency in the provision of effectiveness, efficiency and affordability of the sector, urban transport services. bearing in mind that the overall aim of urban transport 4. Minimising the cost of providing services and development is to contribute to the improvement in the facilities through most cost-effective methods. quality of life of the community. 5. Sustaining urban transport development initiatives, and making future development more pro- active in respect of urban development, rather than 2. URBAN TRANSPORT POLICY OBJECTIVES being retro-active. 6. Minimising the environmental impact of In line with the objectives of Ghana's Vision 2020, the transport by avoiding emissions and visual intrusion key policy objective for the transport sector is to from vehicles. establish an efficient and modally complementary and integrated transport network for the movement of To achieve these policy objectives within the wider people and goods at least cost throughout the country. context of the national development objectives, This general policy objective is fuirther focussed in the requires a strategy or package of measures which are Gateway Programme, which identifies the important outlined below. role of transport in Ghana's economic strategy of building its competitive advantage within the West African sub-region to attract industry and trade 3. URBAN TRANSPORT STRATEGY external, as well as domestic through utilizing 3.1 Improving accessibility. resources and inputs, to service external markets. Thus the Gateway Strategy envisages, for example, the This is being achieved through the construction, development of free trade zones, free ports, and a rehabilitation and/or up-grading of roads to meet liberalised skies policy, all of which impact on realistic demand forecasts. Where forecast demand transport development. cannot be served by such investments, other investment options such as rail-based systems and Thus Vision 2020 and the Gateway Programme busway transit will have to be examined and adopted. guide transport development strategy into the 21st Demand management strategies are also being E. A. Kwake, P. R. Fouracre2 2 considered. Demand may be regulated through parking 3.4 Minimising cost of~providing transport services policies in the short to medium term and road pricing and infrastructure. as a longer term option. Government is seeking to minimise transport costs by continuing to encourage a free market in public In addition public transport services will have to be transport provision. Government is also committed to through priority measures on key routes enhanced introducing private sector participation in the State-run where the level of demand warrants this intervention. bus companies, and in the operation of bus terminals, Government will also seek to use its regulatory powers and the adoption and execution of parking policies. to encourage the use of more efficient large vehicles on high demand routes. The use of existing infrastructure is being optimised through more effective traffic management promote Government is also seeking to techniques. The case for investment in new development accessibility through planned land-use infrastructure will be on the basis of high economic planning controls which take and stricter land-use rates of return. Emphasis is being placed on the the impact of new developments on traffic account of maintenance and rehabilitation of the existing urban and transport demand. road network. 3.2 Enhancing travel opportunitiesfor the less mobile people in the cities. 3.5 Sustainingdevelopment. Government is seeking ways to encourage the Wherever possible schemes are being designed to development of comprehensive transport facilities achieve cost recovery in the provision of transport which are affordable to everyone. Bicycle ownership services.