Government has been lambasted for implementing the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) service at a time some Ghanaians are finding it difficult to feed themselves.
According to the Member of Parliament for Ablekuma North Justice Joe Appiah, the BRT is a misplaced priority, which he said has been the penchant of the Mahama-led administration.
Speaking on Onua FM’s morning showing Tuesday, the MP said the government has over the years exhibited poor judgment when it comes to providing social intervention to Ghanaians.
“Ghanaians are crying for even two square meals a day and they can’t get it, but this government rather decided to bring buses which we have to force them before they told us how much it is costing the tax payer. Is that what we need now while people are still sleeping outside? It is just wanton dissipation of public fund; this government cannot not pride itself as government for the people,” Joe Appiah maintained.
The BRT service suspended its five-day piloting exercise after a day’s trial in Accra. The newly introduced bus service is expected to be expanded to other parts of the country to help commute passengers faster and more conveniently. Special lanes on some of Ghana’s major roads are being created to serve only the BRT buses to guarantee rapid transportation.
But Joe Appiah said government should have invested the resources used in securing the buses in what he referred to as “vital part” of the economy which will create jobs for the teeming unemployed youth.
“President Kufuor built Ghana’s economy and left it healthy but this government did not only collapse it but left it in the intensive care, Nana Addo will come and revive the economy after Ghanaians kick out this incompetent and insensitive government,” he said.
He therefore advised Ghanaians, “If the NDC asks you to look up, please look down, because they are not trust worthy.”
However, Communications Consultant to the National Health Insurance Authority, Eric Ametor Quame has rejected the assertions of Joe Appiah.
He argued that if comparison is done sector by sector, considering the eight years under NDC and NPP respectively, it will be realized that the NDC has done far more than the NPP.
“If I were the NPP, I will not be talking, because they performed poorly, they should be begging for forgiveness from the electorates, they only major in misleading Ghanaians, I challenge the NPP to go round the country and see the achievements of President Mahama and stop going round with lies,” he stated.
The BRT is under the Urban Transport Project (UTP) of the Ministry of Roads and Highways.
It is jointly funded by the World Bank, the Agence Francaise de Development (AFD), Government of Ghana and the Global Environment Facility Trust Fund at a cost of $95 million.
It is being jointly implemented by the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development, the Ministry of Roads and Highways and the Department of Urban Roads.
The process towards the implementation of the BRT started in 2007 when the New Patriotic Party (NPP) was in power.
Between 2008 and 2009, it faced many difficulties, key among them being the stiff resistance from private transport operators.
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