Collaborate to address urban mobility, accessibility challenges in Accra - Adjei-Mensah Korsah

The Minister for Local Government, Decentralisation and Rural Development (MLGDRD), Martin Adjei-Mensah Korsah, has called for a collaborative approach to address the urban mobility and accessibility challenges facing the Greater Accra Metropolitan Area (GAMA).

He said the daily struggles of congestion, air pollution, and inefficiencies in public transport require urgent and collective action.

Mr Korsah made the call at the end of the Ghana Urban Mobility and Accessibility Project (GUMAP) forum in Accra.
 
Organised by the(MLGDRD), the forum served as a platform for sharing achievements and lessons from GUMAP, to foster synergies and enhance partnerships towards improving urban mobility and accessibility in the country.
 
Mr Korsah highlighted the significance of urbanisation and population growth in the Accra Metropolis, which has intensified pressure on transportation infrastructure and services. 
 
"The Ministry has collaborated with various partners to formulate policies, devise strategies, and design programmes aimed at improving urban mobility and accessibility. However, addressing these challenges requires concerted efforts from all stakeholders, including other ministries, departments, agencies, development partners, the private sector, and citizens," the minister stated.
 
Achievements 

He outlined key achievements of the GUMAP, a $6 million grant from the Swiss State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO), which included household travel surveys, public transport routes and passenger flow mapping, and the introduction of new courses at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST). These efforts,  he said, were foundational steps towards a more sustainable urban transportation system.
 
Mr Korsah also revealed plans for small-scale pilot safety improvement measures at six critical junctions within the beneficiary Metropolitan and Municipal Assemblies. These improvements are aimed at enhancing road safety for all users and testing the applicability of findings from the project's studies.
 
Acknowledgement 

Despite the progress made, the Minister acknowledged that the project had not resolved all the urban mobility and accessibility issues in the Accra metropolis. However, he stressed that the data and insights gathered provide a crucial baseline for future targeted investments and interventions.
 
He therefore called for sustained partnership and collaboration among urban mobility stakeholders to ensure a resilient, livable, and sustainable future for Accra stressing that "Together, we have the power to shape the future of urban mobility and make a lasting impact on the lives of all residents in the metropolis and beyond.”
 
The Chairman for the event, Dr. Evans Aggrey Darko, emphasised the importance of continuous engagement and adaptability in implementing urban mobility solutions. 
 
"Our approach must be dynamic, responding to the evolving needs and challenges of our urban spaces. The success of GUMAP is a testament to what we can achieve through persistent and coordinated efforts," he said.
 
Deputy Minister for Local Government, Decentralisation and Rural Development, Abdulai Abanga, stressed the critical role of community involvement in ensuring the success of urban mobility initiatives. 

"For these measures to be effective, we must actively engage local communities. Their input and cooperation are essential in creating solutions that are both practical and sustainable," he added.