Kumasi: The Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, has emphasized the urgent need for the implementation of the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) project in the Ashanti Region. He noted that such a project would alleviate transportation difficulties faced by commuters in Kumasi and surrounding districts.
According to Ghana News Agency, the Asantehene highlighted that Kumasi's growing population and expanding business activities have led to congestion, complicating movement within the city. He pointed out the inefficiencies caused by vehicles competing for limited space, negatively impacting the city's economic development. The Asantehene stressed that if the BRT had been implemented earlier, it could have significantly improved the economic situation by reducing travel time and fuel costs.
During a meeting with a delegation led by Mr. Ousmane Diagana, Vice President for Western and Central Africa at the World Bank, at the Manhyia Palace in Kumasi, the Asantehene underscored the employment potential of the BRT project. He argued that it would facilitate the movement of goods and people, enhancing business activities. He lamented that the project has been delayed since 2015 due to bureaucratic hurdles and called for a social contract with the World Bank to expedite its execution, suggesting that the project unit and coordinator be based in Kumasi for better coordination.
Mr. Diagana acknowledged the rapid urbanization in Africa and the urgency of modernizing transportation systems in cities like Kumasi, which hosts one of Africa's largest markets. He assured that the World Bank would leverage experiences from similar projects worldwide to realize the Kumasi project. He added that if approval is granted by June, the project would quickly address traffic and congestion issues in Kumasi.
The Kumasi Urban Mobility and Accessibility Project is currently in the pre-feasibility stage, featuring a 29-kilometer BRT spanning two corridors, Ejisu and Abuakwa, with a mid-point at Kejetia. The corridor choice was based on a pre-feasibility study conducted by the Department of Urban Roads.
