Stakeholders and players in the transport sector are set to converge on the Labadi Beach Hotel in Accra on the morning of Tuesday, February 24, this year, for the first edition of the year’s Graphic Business-Stanbic Bank Breakfast Meeting.
The event, organised by Graphic Business in partnership with Stanbic Bank Ghana, will be held on the theme: “Why resetting Ghana’s urban transport system is an economic necessity”.
It is expected to bring together policymakers, regulators, transport operators, financial institutions, urban planners and development partners to deliberate on the urgent need to reform and modernise the country’s urban transport architecture to drive economic growth and improve productivity.
Speakers for the event include Associate Professor at the University of Education, Winneba, Prof. Enoch F. Sam, the Head of Financial Advisory and Equity Capital Markets (Corporate and Investment Banking) at Stanbic Bank Ghana, Isaac Simpson, and the General Secretary of the Ghana Private Road Transport Union (GPRTU), Godfred Abulbire.
Urban transport remains a major challenge in Ghana’s rapidly growing cities, particularly Accra and Kumasi, where congestion, unreliable public transport services and weak enforcement of traffic regulations continue to impose significant economic costs.
Other challenges include the non-availability of means of public transport during rush hours, in particular, and high fares relative to the recent consistent drop in fuel prices.
It is estimated that hours lost in traffic, high vehicle operating costs, and inefficiencies in mass transit systems collectively result in millions of cedis in lost productivity annually.
The meeting will examine how a reset of the system through structured bus rapid transit systems, better regulation of commercial transport operators, digital ticketing, improved infrastructure and enhanced private sector participation could unlock economic value.
Participants are also expected to explore sustainable financing models and the role of financial institutions in supporting fleet renewal and infrastructure development.
The forum will feature presentations from industry experts and thought leaders, followed by a moderated discussion to enable participants to share perspectives and propose practical solutions.
Source:
www.graphic.com.gh