Your role as transport operators is very crucial to our national development – Dr Bawumia to GPRTU

Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia has called on the leadership and members of the Ghana Private Road Transport Union (GPRTU) and other transport operators to collaborate with government as it works to transform Ghana’s public transport system.

Dr Bawumia, who was speaking at the 11th Quadrennial Delegates Conference of the GPRTU on Thursday, 4th July, 2024 at Gomoa Fetteh in the Central Region. Speaking on the theme for the conference: “Transitioning from fossil fuels to electric vehicles for a cleaner environment: The Role of Transport Unions for a Digital Economy has therefore urged owners and operators in the transport sector to work hand in hand with Government to ensure the success of these initiatives.
“As transport operators, your role is very significant to our national development influencing economic growth, social cohesion, and the overall quality of life.
 
“Government is therefore keen to support development within the transport sector to ensure that your operations deliver immediate benefits and for long-term sustainable development,” he pledged.
  According to Dr Bawumia, ongoing efforts to infuse digitalization into the transport sector such as the streamlining of the processes for Driver’s Licence acquisition, vehicle registration, insurance renewal, the soon-to-be rolled-out Tap n Go ride-hailing system for taxis as well as the introduction of Electric Buses into the public transport sector are all designed to make their operations
more cost effective and profitable.

Dr Bawumia disclosed that, Government is facilitating the purchase of about 100 Electric buses, to be run by the GPRTU, by the end of the year. Construction of hybrid (solar and conventional electricity) Charging Stations for the batteries of these buses and other electric vehicles will start soon, with the aim of moving public transport away from fossil fuels to renewables
. Two of the major components in transport cost build up is the cost of fuel and spare parts. To address this, we have resolved to move towards the use of Electric Vehicles (EV) in public transport. EVs do not use fuel, and they use very spare parts; the main spare part is the battery, and that can last for years.
 
“We will work with you (transport operators) to renew your fleets and acquire Electric Vehicles. With the Tap n’ Go digital payment system for public transport that I launched recently, banks will have the assurance that they can track revenues and ensure payment of their loans, so they will be more willing to lend to operators to acquire Electric Vehicles,” he maintained.

As a government, we remain committed to creating an enabling environment and innovative solutions that will ensure that the majority of members of the various transport unions benefit from the dividends of the digital economy. And we shall do so by working closely with you.