The Vice President of the Republic, Dr. Alhaji Mahamudu Bawumia, has stated the importance of transitioning from fossil fuels to electric vehicles in promoting a cleaner environment during the 11th Quadrennial Conference of the Ghana Private Road Transport Union (GPRTU). The event, held under the theme "Transitioning from Fossil Fuels to Electric Vehicles for a Cleaner Environment: The Role of Transport Unions for a Digital Economy," underscored the government's commitment to digitalization and decarbonization of the transport sector.
Dr. Bawumia commended the GPRTU and other stakeholders for their collaboration and support, which have been instrumental in advancing Ghana's transport sector. He also acknowledged the support the government had received from the leadership of the GPRTU, the Ghana Road Transport Coordinating Council, and other transport operators in the country.
The Minister for Transport, Hon. Kwaku Ofori Asiamah in his statement to the delegates, stressed the significance of recent initiatives aimed at modernizing public transport services. "In August 2022, as part of efforts to improve service delivery and sanitize the public transport ecosystem, I witnessed the launch of two innovative initiatives by the GPRTU, namely, the introduction of the passenger manifest and electronic ticketing system following a successful pilot in the Greater Accra, Ashanti, Central, and Upper East regions," he noted.
He also highlighted the "TransportGhana" initiative, launched by the National Road Safety Authority, and the Tap "n" Go system by Metro Mass Transit Limited. These platforms, he added, were designed to streamline registration, licensing, and permitting processes for road transport companies and provide cashless payment options, among other functionalities.
The Minister further detailed the upcoming revisions to the Road Traffic Act, 2004 (Act 683), and the Road Traffic Regulations 2012 (L.I. 2180), which aimed to address emerging trends in road safety and transport.
Hon. Ofori Asiamah noted that key highlights of the revisions included immediate digital verification of driver's licenses, mandatory towing services for disabled vehicles, and automated traffic law enforcement.
He reiterated the government's dedication to promoting electric vehicles as part of its decarbonization strategy. "We have successfully launched the National Electric Vehicle Policy, which offers many opportunities that can be leveraged to propel green development. The principal objective is to ensure that after the year 2045, no new petrol and diesel vehicles would be sold or imported into this country," he explained.
Hon. Kwaku Ofori Asiamah also acknowledged the support he had received as the Minister for Transport from the leadership of the GPRTU, the Ghana Road Transport Coordinating Council, and other transport operators, noting that without them, the socio-cultural and economic activities in this country would have come to a standstill.
He urged the GPRTU and other stakeholders to continue supporting the government's efforts to reform the transport sector. He called for unity and collaboration through their election process, emphasizing the importance of transparency, fairness, and a shared commitment to improving public transport services.
