The Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (KMA) has held a public engagement of stakeholders on transport service re-organisation in the Kumasi Metropolis to address challenges facing transport operators and passengers.
Mr. Samuel Pyne, Mayor of Kumasi, explained at the forum that the aim was to enhance collaboration between the KMA, the Metro Security Council, and stakeholders in the transport service to address the pressing challenges facing passengers, operators and drivers.
He said the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly could not solve the challenges alone without the contributions of other stakeholders in the metropolis, hence, the need to get them on board to bring out ideas to ensure that the transport system and the security of residents in Kumasi and beyond was assured.
The Mayor noted that Kumasi was a nodal town and had been providing transport services to residents and other people who made use of the city on a daily basis.
He indicated that in recent times, transport services had seen a downward trend for various reasons, including proliferation of stations, illegal loading and increased congestion within the Central Business District (CBD) and other major intersections.
According to him, complaints had been received from the travelling public regarding long hours of waiting and loading before the vehicles fill up and set off for a journey.
The KMA boss also revealed that transport operators also complained of inadequate terminals and loading points among other challenges, hence, the need to deliberate and fashion out solutions before the situation got worse.
Madam Simbiat Wiredu, Ashanti Regional Director of the National Road Safety Authority (NRSA), noted that congestion in the inner city caused delays and accidents, besides threats on the lives of pedestrians and passengers.
She indicated that a lot of drivers did not respect the laid down rules and regulations, thus endangering the lives of passengers, and entreated station officers to keep records of passengers.
Commander Seth Appianing, Ashanti Regional Commander of Customs, Excise and Preventive Services (CEPS), also entreated questioning suspicious issues involving children, since child trafficking was common to avoid complicity.
DO III Thomas Asiedu, Metro Fire Commander, cautioned drivers to be on the lookout for strange smells and not ignore warning signs to avoid fire outbreaks, stating that fire always alert drivers before blown up.
The Fire Officer disclosed that vehicle paint, petrol and batteries could generate fire in vehicles, hence, any abnormal smell should be quickly attended to.
