Minister tackles urban mobility challenges

The Minister for Local Government, Decentralization and Rural Development, Martin Adjei-Mensah-Korsah, has called for stakeholder collaboration in solving urban mobility and accessibility challenges.

At the Urban Mobility forum held in Accra, the Minister indicated that the forum accords them the opportunity as experts, practitioners and stakeholders within the urban mobility and accessibility space to share insights and ideas to foster sustainability of urban mobility and accessibility with a focus on GAMA.

“ I recalled one of the subject matters highlighted was the challenges of urban mobility and accessibility in our towns and cities. It is therefore refreshing to see all stakeholders again here to interrogate issues relating to urban mobility and accessibility and proffer appropriate solutions to them”. He said

According to him, the Greater Accra Metropolitan Area (GAMA) has experienced rapid urbanisation and population growth, which has led to increased pressure on transportation infrastructure and services and daily travel are mostly associated with congestion, air pollution, and public transport inefficiencies that require critical and urgent attention.

“Recognizing the importance of urban mobility to spur socio-economic development and growth, it is necessary to prioritize dialogues on these issues, to improve urban mobility and accessibility. Addressing myriad of challenges such as traffic congestion, air pollution and inadequate road infrastructure inour cities and towns does not only rest with the Ministry of Local Government, Decentralisation and Rural Development and Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies but requires a collective effort from other Ministries, Departments and agencies; Development Partners; Private Sector as well as citizens”.

Mr. Korsah disclosed that the Ministry has over the years collaborated with other partners to formulate policies, devise strategies, design programmes and projects for improved mobility and accessibility culminating in increased road infrastructure and conditions and improved urban services and livelihoods.

The Minister was of the view that the introduction of the final draft revised National Urban Policy and Implementation Plan to Improve governance and financing for urban mobility and accessibility under the objective to Expand Access to Urban Infrastructure and Services clearly demonstrates the Ministry’s commitment in dealing with the issues.

“As a Ministry, we have also not relented in our efforts towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) particularly the second target of Goal 11, which is aimed at ensuring “Affordable and Sustainable Transport Systems”.

The Minister for Local Government, Decentralization and Rural Development, is however optimistic that the discussions held by stakeholders would foster synergies and enhance partnerships among urban mobility stakeholders including MDAs, MMDAs, development partners, academia and the private sector towards improving mobility, accessibility for the over 4 million people within GAMA.