He said there was the need to promote simple means of transport to ease traffic, especially in the urban areas.

The former President made the call at the launch of ‘EcoRide’, an environmental friendly bicycle, organised by Ghana Bamboo Bikes Initiative (GBBI), in Accra.

He indicated that the bamboo plant from which the product was made had many benefits, adding that Ghanaians should take advantage of it to improve the economy.

“I would like to encourage the private sector to take advantage of the product so that it could be sustained”, former President Kufuor said.

He lamented that Ghana spends huge sums of money on the importation of foreign goods, stressing that the purchase of home made goods would improve the economy.

Former President Kufuor urged the GBBI group to take advantage of the Ghanaian market and do business, and advised that it should produce products for the internal and international market.

Ms. Bernice Dapaah, the Chief Executive Officer of GBBI, said his outfit’s vision was to operate with a global perspective, to bring foreign exchange to the country, provide jobs for the youth and reduce the effects of rural-urban migration.

She said GBBI was collaborating with its partners to organise workshops in the Brong-Ahafo Region, to promote mass production of the bicycles.

The group donated 10 ‘EcoRide’ bicycles to some students from Akatsi in the Volta Region.

By Luther King Owusu-Amoah