CRISIS LOOMS ...In vehicular traffic (Lead Story)

Story: Tim Dzamboe, Ho

A TRANSPORTATION crisis beyond Lagos and Beijing proportions has been predicted in Ghana if the prevailing ratio of vehicles to motorable roads should continue into 2015.
A study conducted by the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA) predicted total saturation and unbearable pollution at peak time when all vehicles would come to a standstill as a result of the disproportionate growth of vehicular fleet to roads.
The statistics showed that vehicular fleet increased from 382,261 to 624,783 from 2000 to 2005, representing an average growth of 6.9 per cent, a growth rate that is likely to lead to saturation, considering the slower rate of provision of roads.
The data were presented in a summary for policy makers on Ghana Vehicular Emission Inventory prepared by the Climate Change Unit of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and released last September.
Relating vehicular emissions to vehicular growth, the report said emissions from motor vehicles were in two categories — exhaust or tailpipe emissions and evaporate emissions.
It noted that exhaust emissions were one of the major forms of emissions from on-road vehicle operations, while evaporative emissions consisted entirely of other forms.
It further stated that a national fleet data, national statistics on fuel consumption, data on weather conditions and data on driving patterns were requirements for the determination of emission estimation in the country.
The report gathered that a total of 1,569,603.7 metric tonnes of diesel, gasoline and Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) were consumed in 2005, against 1,316,532.6 metric tonnes in 2000.
That amounted to total emission levels from 32,222.78 tonnes in 2000 to 52,666.17 tonnes in 2005 at the rate of 16.67 per cent per annum. The rate of increase depended on a corresponding increase in fleet numbers and fuel consumption.
It recommended that relevant institutions like the Tema Oil Refinery, the DVLA, and the oil manufacturing companies should make conscious efforts to capture data that would help to improve the certainty of future emission inventory.
It also noted that the state of vehicle population data at the DVLA required immediate attention, especially speeding up the digitisation process of analogue data.
The report recommended that there must be continuous improvement in quality of fuel devoid of dilution and adulteration and the institution of regular mobile engine inspection and maintenance schedules.
The report suggested alternative sustainable transport options and alternative fuel use, as well as regulatory measures and enforcement, to prevent higher emissions and their attendant pollution and negative effects on human health and the environment.
Meanwhile, the EPA has held a dissemination workshop on a study conducted in Kumasi and Accra with the view to sensitising relevant stakeholders to the challenges ahead in connection with emissions in the country.