Ing. Ludwig Annang Hesse, president of the Ghana Institution of Engineering (GhIE), warned that Ghana’s transport problems stem from fragmented city governance. Speaking at the Third International Conference on Energy and Engineering in Sunyani, he said the division of major metropolitan areas among several municipal assemblies hampers coordinated transport planning.
Hesse argued that public transport should be planned at the metropolitan level rather than by individual municipalities, stressing that "you cannot do it piece by piece. You have to do it as a whole." He added that the same holistic approach should guide urban planning, including industry siting and other developments.
The engineer called for a clear authority with the mandate and resources to implement transport plans. He noted that many plans exist but their recommendations fall through because responsibilities are spread across different institutions. Hesse said governance must come first, followed by integrated urban and transport planning, and an authority to enforce and implement the plans.
He urged immediate action on pressing transport issues, saying "doing nothing is not an option," and called for attention to traffic lights, road maintenance and other basic infrastructure. The conference, organised by the University of Energy and Natural Resources, also featured discussions on energy transition, industry‑academia collaboration and local business development.
As Ghana moves toward sustainable development, Hesse’s call for better governance and coordinated planning could shape the next generation of transport solutions.
