Source: By- Mohammed Saani Ibrahim—The Accra Times
The Sector Minister for Roads and Highways, hon. Joe Gidisu has
indicated his optimism that the National Democratic Congress [NDC]
will be given another four year mandate by the people on December
7th .
The Minister said the NDC based on their indelible achievements
since January 2009 deserved to be given the nod again to form a new
Government and continue the positive impact of improving the life
of the people in the country. Hon. Joe Gidisu made these
observations when he took his turn to brief the media on
interventions being made by his Ministry to the nation’s economy at
the weekly based ‘’ Meet the Press’’ series of the Ministry of
Information on Tuesday.
He referred to road transportation as a strategic sector of Ghana’s
economy as it forms an important part of the social safety net,
facilitating the distribution of wealth through trade and
employment opportunities in both urban and rural communities.
Ghana’s economy to achieve national targets for growth and poverty
reduction depends to a very large extent on an efficient, reliable
and safe road infrastructure system which is adequate, affordable
and complements other models.
He noted that the focus of the Ministry is primarily to formulate
and implement policies that make it possible for the provision of
access through better distribution and integration of the road
network system with special emphasis on safety, affordability and
mobility.
The Ministry maintained its focus on routine and periodic
maintenance activities to protect the huge investment made by
Government in the provision of the
road infrastructure. As at September
2012, he pointed out that routine maintenance had been undertaken
on 7,495.5km of the trunk road
network, 8,500 km on feeder roads whiles on the urban road network
945km of grading works and pothole patching was undertaken.
Additionally, periodic maintenance activities, comprising
re-gravelling, spot improvement and resealing works had been
carried out on 64km, 400km and 1,577km on trunk, feeder and urban
road networks respectively. Hon. Gidisu further explained that his
Ministry under the road asset maintenance policy formulated a
Program Estimate with the assistance of the European Commission to
regulate overloading to an optimal limit and improve and expand on
transport sector indicators and database for policy formulation and
better management of investment in the sector.
The Roads and Highways Ministry improved revenue generation into
the Road Fund for the maintenance of the road network as toll
collection commenced at some strategic parts of the country. He
mentioned New Offinso[Kumasi-Techiman], Kubease[ Nkawkaw-Kumasi] and Sawla [Bole-Wa] as new places where toll collections have
commenced.
The Ghana Road Fund which was to provide a secure source of funding
for the preservation of Ghana’s road network has seen an
appreciable increase in the road user fees with the exception of
the fuel levy following the enactment and implementation of the
Fees and Charges [Miscellaneous Provisions] Act, Act 793 of
2009.
The Fund allocated a total of GHC 127 Million to three Agencies to
undertake maintenance and minor rehabilitation works for this year
which is expected to meet about 55% of the road maintenance need.
As a result of the inadequacy of the revenue inflow, the Fund is as
at September 2012, indebted to the
tune of GHC243 Million leading to Government approving an amount of
GHC180 Million to cover payment of executed
works.
He announced that the Ministry is exploring other sources to
increase revenue into the Fund in addition to the five revenue
sources of fuel levy, road and bridge tolls, vehicle licensing
fees, vehicle road use[ road
worthiness] fees and international transit fees.
He mentioned among other things that they are putting in place a
policy framework to regulate the use of LPG powered vehicles and to
institute appropriate legal basis or mechanism for vehicle using
LPG to pay a levy to the Road Fund.
He further mentioned the establishment of additional toll booths on
selected trunk roads and the automation of toll collection as some
measures they are embarking on to increase revenue to the
Fund.
The Minister described the automation of toll collections on the
Accra-Tema Motorway and on the Mallam-Kasoa road in the Greater
Accra Region as very successful which has helped in minimizing
leakage of revenue.
Hon. Joe Gidisu called on Ghanaians to ensure a successful,
credible, peaceful and transparent General Election on Friday 7th
December.
