Koforidua, Dec. 1, GNA - The Minister for Local Government and Rural=

Development, Mr Joseph Yieleh Chireh, has reiterated Government's commitm= ent to improving urban transportation towards the realization of its better Ghana agenda. He said that public transportation all over the world was a function= of the local government but the technical and professional requirements including standards and licensing were recognized as specialized areas. Mr Chireh, who was speaking at the inauguration of a 13-member Board=

for the Centre for Urban Transportation, (CUT) in Koforidua. He said the CUT was created by an act of Parliament with funding fro= m the World Bank, Agence Francaisse de development, the Global Environmenta= l facility and the Government of Ghana, to improve urban transportation in the country. He said the CUT project would presently focus on the 10 Municipal Assemblies throughout the country and it would be replicated in the districts. Mr Francis Agbotse, Chairman of the Board, commended the President a= nd the Minister for Local Government and Rural Development for the confidenc= e reposed in the Board members. Members of the board are representatives from the National Developme= nt Planning Commission, Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority, National Roa= d safety Commission, Ghana Private Road Transport Union and two government nominees among others.