Gov’t considering cable cars for coastal transport

• Posted on August 8, 2018
• by Ellsamwise King
• Comment

The Ministry of Transport is considering introducing cable cars, and shuttle passenger services by sea as alternative means of transport along the coast.

These ideas, if implemented, will be piloted from Tema to Accra and Accra to Takoradi.

This was revealed by the Minister of Transport, Kwaku Ofori Asiamah at the Ministry’s mid-year review conference held in Koforidua.

“The Ministry is considering other alternative transport solutions including pedway, cable car, and shuttle passenger services by sea (from Tema to Accra and Accra to Takoradi along the coast). The cable and pedway systems depend on the use of cables or beams instead of the road space,” he said.

The minister said the introduction of the new mode of transport is in line with the changing trends and advancement of technology.

“The provision of the transport infrastructure and services is dynamic and ever-changing. Generally, we are used to four main modes of transport namely; air, rail, road, and water. However, with the advancing technology, there are new and emerging modes which as a sector we can explore”.

He added the idea would be “brainstormed at length at one of the sessions and I kindly wish to urge participants to come out proposals that protect the interest of every Ghanaian and also encourages innovation.”

Need for regulation

Mr. Ofori Asiamah also lamented the lack of enforcement and regulation of activities in the transport sector.

“We have seen the proliferation of digital taxi platforms such as the Uber and Taxify services. Though they have improved accessibility and comfort to commuters, we must ensure that they conform to the necessary regulations”.

“As some of you may have noticed, whiles the other modes of transport, be it rail, maritime and air have properly established institutions that regulate their activities, the road transport services, unfortunately, is not fully regulated. The shortfall in this oversight function has greatly contributed to the mirage of problems currently facing urban transport services delivery”.

Source: CNR