To promote global sustainable mobility, the University of Cape Coast in partnership with the University of Kassel, Germany has commenced the maiden “Move on International Summer School” for researchers from 15 sub-Saharan countries.
The VolkswagenStiftung (VW) funded weeklong program aims to build the capacities of researchers in order to help transform mobility in their respective countries.
A Senior Lecturer and transport geographer with the department of geography and regional planning at the University of Cape Coast, Dr. Regina Amoako- Sakyi noted that mobility such as walking and cycling can improve livelihoods by advancing economic and social development.
She however said there are some problems with global mobility including environmental impacts, human safety, accessibility, and affordability.
“We all know what we are facing with the current global warming and transportation has a lot to do with it. And so our effort is to bring up people ready with a solution.” She said
To this end, she stressed the need for stakeholders to formulate and implement sustainable policies to address global mobility issues.
“Policy is good but we need force. Another thing we also want to do is to have the education reach the drivers and pedestrians on safety precautions on the road… even the design of our road only makes room for vehicles and vehicle drivers. But we know that we have multi-users. So how are we actually making our roads friendlier?”
Dr. Regina Amoako- Sakyi was speaking to ALTFM NEWS on the sidelines of the maiden summer school which began on Monday, October 10, 2022.
On her part, a professor of sustainable mobility at the University of Kassel, Germany, Prof. Angela Francke, emphasized that developing sustainable mobility options such as walking and cycling are essential.
As such, she said collaborations such as summer school are needed to find solutions to mobility problems.
“There is the need to have different activity groups on the table in order to find lasting solutions to these problems.” She said.
She, therefore, called for more of such collaborations to address global mobility concerns.
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Source: Emmanuella Ama Gyamfi/ATLFMNEWS
