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Bilateral meetings with the Ghanaian government officials

The Special Envoy held a bilateral meeting with the President of Ghana, H.E. Mr. Nana Addo Dankwa Akuffo-Addo on 20 August 2018. Mr. Todt gave an overview of his mandate and activities and expressed his appreciation to the President for hosting a Regional Workshop on Road Safety and Urban Mobility in Ghana. The Special Envoy explained that the workshop was inspired by Kofi Annan and expressed his sadness for his passing, highlighting that the outcomes of the workshop will extend his legacy. In the course of the meeting, everyone in attendance agreed on launching a Kofi Annan Road Safety Award, which could potentially motivate stronger action from Member States in the region. 

The Special Envoy applauded Ghana’s leadership and commitment to road safety as demonstrated by their leading road safety performance on the continent, according to the mid-term review of the African Road Safety Action Plan. The President of Ghana shared about Ghana’s National Road Safety Strategy through 2020 and requested the National Road Safety Commission (NRSC) to prepare targets and actions for the next five years. He further requested for NRSC data to be presented by district and target activities to allow comparing and competing for best performance. 

In conclusion, the Special Envoy encouraged Ghana’s consideration of accession and successful implementation of six United Nations road safety convention, which the President of Ghana committed to reviewing. 

The following officials joined the Special Envoy during the meeting:

o Dr. Vera Songwe, Executive Secretary, ECA

o Hon. Kwaku Ofori Asiamah, Minister of Transport of Ghana

o Ing. May Obiri-Yeboah, Executive Director, National Road Safety Commission (NRSC)

o Ms. Christine Evans-Klock, UN Resident Coordinator for Ghana
In addition to the meeting with the President, the Special Envoy held a separate meeting with Hon. Kwaku Ofori Asiamah, Minister of Transport of Ghana; Hon. Samuel Ayeh-Paye, Chairman, Parliamentary Select on Roads and Transport and Ing. May Obiri-Yeboah, Executive Director, National Road Safety Commission (NRSC). During the meeting, the Minister of Transport committed to reviewing the issue of acceding to United Nations road safety convention. 
Together with the UN Resident Coordinator, NRSC Executive Director, World Bank Country Director and ECA representative, the Special Envoy and government officials discussed existing transport initiatives and projects, including expansion of the national and World Bank transport project portfolio to support improvements in urban mobility and road safety. It was further agreed that the World Bank will work with the Ministry of Transport and NRSC to review transport projects and support the government in better addressing urban mobility and road safety.