CRISIS LOOMS.In vehicuar traffic...Dec.5, 2007(Front Page)

Story: Tim Dzamboe, Ho

The Environmental Protection Agency(EPA) has launched a report on vehicular emissions after a study of the effects of pollution from road transport in major urban centres in the country.
The report comprised a Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) of transport policy, Ghana Vehicle Emission Inventory and the Road and Air Traffic Noise Monitoring conducted under the sub-component of the Danish International Development Agency(DANIDA) Transport Sector Programme Support(TSPS) , Phase II.
It was launched at a two-day national stakeholder dissemination workshop on vehicular emissions at Ho today.
Launching the report on the behalf of the minister of local government, rural development and environment, the deputy minister, Alhaji Ahmed A. Yirimea said urban air pollution from road transport was a growing concern since it affected air quality for quality public health, .
He said the SEA recommended that environmental issues were institutionalised and managed in an integrated and sustainable manner adding that alternative roads designs must consider the provision of noise barriers as a means of attenuating the noise levels.
He also said there was the need to strengthen linkages between transport sector and other sectors such as energy, health, tourism, among others and to ensure that such cross-sectoral overlaps were properly addressed.
Alhaji Yirimea noted that for the nation to deal air pollution it is imperative to evolve a transport planning systems that covered Traffic Demand Management, Traffic Management Systems as necessary and fundamental components.
He therefore said an integrated approach combining land use and transport planning, traffic demand management and management systems and regulation needs to be promoted.
He said all the elements should be supported by appropriate policies and actions on resource mobilization, taxation, pricing, institutional and legal aspects with the relevant promotion and awareness creation programmes.
“ It is important to develop vehicular emission standards which must be enforced together with existing traffic laws and regulations to achieve significant improvements in traffic flow and air quality”, he stated.
Alhaji Yirimea explained that proper enforcement is best implemented when the traffic code is clear and traffic management measures support desirable driving behaviour.
In an address read on his behalf, the deputy Volta Regional minister, Mr Joseph Nayan said apart from environmental pollution, vehicle pollution was detrimental to health and caused irritation in respiratory system, coughing, choking, reduced lung capacity, pneumonia influenza and asthma.
He said the emission of carbon monoxide can block the transport of oxygen to the brain, heart and other vital organs in the human body that could cause birth defects, cancer and other serious illnesses.
A programme officer of DANIDA, Mr Mawuena Hayibor said the Danish government considered climate change critical in its policies with developing countries.
He therefore announced that in line with its commitment to ensuring sustainable development in the development countries, the Danish government will be addressing climate change, energy and environment as one of its priorities under its development assistance for the next five years.
A director of the Ministry of Transportation, Mr Godwin Brocke said vehicle emission inventory will have significant implications for the planning of road transport infrastructure and the delivery of all modes of transport and health in the country.
In welcoming address, the executive director of EPA, Mr Jonathan Allotey said the agency was instrumental in the phasing out of leaded fuel in 2004 adding that it was commited to championing the complete elimination of the use of metallic additives and also reduce the level of sulphur in fuels.
He said the agency will continue to raise awareness among stakeholders about best practices that were likely to bring about environmental benefits to the society adding “ we will continue to work with, and not against, the economic incentives of various transport actors”.