The Ministry of Transport, says government’s decision to build the next international airport at Tamale in the Northern Region was because of the strategic role it could play in the country’s socio-economic development.
Mrs Dzifa Attivor, the sector Minister said the airport would enable exporters under the Savannah Accelerated Development Authority to reach the international market more easily and to facilitate travelling of Hajj pilgrims.
Mrs Attivor was speaking during the inauguration of an eight-member reconstituted ministerial advisory board of the Ministry of Transport in Accra on Tuesday.
She said the inauguration of the board is a key statutory obligation that underpins the existence and operations of the Ministry as a policy body responsible for the formulation, co-ordination and monitoring of transport services, among others.
The terms of reference for the Board include the promotion of constant interaction between the Ministry and the users of its services, advising the Minister on adjustments in policy direction, planning objectives and operational strategies.
The Board which has a four-year mandate would meet at least once in every quarter.
Mrs Attivor appealed to members to work hard, show commitment to duty and work with stakeholders to ensure that the Ministry succeeds.
“I will also urge you to bring on board your immense knowledge and diverse expertise to bear on the policy objectives and operations of the Ministry for the benefit of our nation,” she said.
She said they would be updated on the priority projects and programmes being undertaken by Government.
The members of the Board were Mrs Attivor, Chairperson, Mrs Joyce Mogtari Bawa, Deputy Minister of Transport, Mr Twumasi-Ankra Selby, Chief Director, Ministry of Transport, Professor Mohammed Salifu, Head, Department of Civil Engineering, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology.
The rest are Mr Alidu Sadique Chief Executive Officer, Ghana Railway Development Authority, Mr Godwin Douglas Mensah, President Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport, Ms Josephine Nkrumah, Private legal Practitioner and Mr Kwabena Oku-Afari, Director, Real Sector Division, Ministry of Finance.