President John Dramani Mahama has issued a directive for Metro Mass Transit, Ayalolo and private operators to introduce new high-occupancy buses to expand capacity in order to ease pressure on existing public transport services.
The Vice-President, Prof. Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang, who announced this in Accra yesterday, said the government was also taking steps to modernise the public transport system through retooling and improved coordination across both state-run and private services to enhance affordability, accessibility and security for commuters.
the recent pressure faced by commuters and tense atmosphere and disruptions caused by long queues, congestion and rush-hour stress, she said the situation had become a shared national concern requiring joint solutions.
Prof. Opoku-Agyemang said efforts were also underway to expedite payments owed to transport service providers to enable them to deploy more buses on the roads as quickly as possible.
Speaking during as engagement with leaders of the transport sector, the Vice-President stressed the need for transport operators to be fair, respectful and accountable within the sector, and advised the leaders to ensure that their members communicated clearly and respectfully with passengers.
The Vice-President’s engagement with the leadership of commercial transport operators formed part of her itinerary during a working visit to the Ministry of Transport.
In attendance were the leadership of private commercial transport operators, including the Ghana Private Road Transport Union (GPRTU) and managements of public transport companies.
Prof. Opoku-Agyemang urged leaders within the transport sector to closely monitor their associations to prevent negative conduct, including exploitation and disregard for safety protocols.
“I want you to ensure that no passenger feels exploited, whether through fares, queues or lapses in safety protocols,” she said.
Visit
The visit was part of a broader engagement with key ministries to ramp up government’s efforts at resetting the system for better and sustainable outcomes.
The Vice-President had earlier visited the ministries of Education, Health and Gender, Children and Social Protection in the course of the week.
Prof. Opoku-Agyemang was accompanied by the Chief of Staff in her office, Alex Percival Segbefia, along with other staff.
She was received by the sector Minister, Joseph Bukari Nikpe, and the Deputy Minister, Dorcas Affo-Toffey, together with management, staff and heads of agencies under the ministry.
Address concerns
The Vice-President appealed for patience, cooperation and collective responsibility as the government moved to address the growing transportation challenges confronting commuters across the country.
She assured operators and the public that authorities were not indifferent to the daily frustrations on the roads.
The Vice-President explained that what initially appeared to be seasonal congestion during the Christmas period had now become a sustained challenge.
On behalf of the President, she expressed appreciation to transport unions for their cooperation, particularly the 15 per cent reduction in fares in May last year.
Prof. Opoku-Agyemang called for a collective effort to develop a transportation system that prioritised fairness, efficiency and excellence.
“We are relying on each other to make that possible. And we can do this by upholding high standards, treating passengers with respect.
And by so doing, we will also strengthen the trust and build a transport system that truly works for Ghanaians,”
Efforts
Mr Nikpe revealed that since December, the ministry had observed an increase in the number of people using roads and engaging in economic activities within intra-city areas.
He said while temporary measures were introduced during the Christmas and New Year periods to ease congestion, a return to full-scale economic activity had placed immense pressure on the limited number of vehicles currently in operation.
He said years of inadequate investment had left both public and private transport operators struggling to meet demand.
The minister expressed the belief that increased capacity would significantly ease congestion and commuter frustration.
He said Ghanaians were no longer satisfied with promises, but expected visible action.
“They want to see more buses. They want to see government supporting GPRTU and other unions,” he said.
Mr Nikpe added that a functional transport system was essential if the economy was to continue growing.
He assured commuters that the government was fully aware of the daily hardships they faced, adding that officials from the ministry often visited terminals and stations unannounced to observe conditions firsthand.
Describing the situation as worrying, the minister said those experiences had strengthened the government’s resolve to act swiftly.
Appeal
A senior transport union representative, Ibrahim Musah, appealed to the government to urgently prioritise the acquisition of more buses for operators, adding that without immediate and practical fleet expansion, the persistent transportation challenges facing commuters would get worst.
He said recent approaches to fleet allocation had excluded some operators, leaving them severely disadvantaged.
Mr Musah said from 2023 through 2024, the system of allocating vehicles largely favoured state agencies, while private operators were overlooked, despite carrying a significant share of commuter traffic nationwide.
He further explained that most of the vehicles currently in use dated back to around 2016, and had now outlived their optimal operational lifespan.
The transport union representative said as a result, breakdowns had become frequent, with buses functioning one day and breaking down the next, many spending extended periods in repair workshops.
He proposed that after the planned deployment of 200 buses, at least 100 diesel-powered buses should be supplied to serve areas without adequate charging infrastructure, while electronic vehicles could be deployed mainly in Accra and other urban centres.
Source:
www.graphic.com.gh