Vice President Prof Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang has assured commuters that the government has begun concrete plans to procure high-occupancy buses to ease the worsening transport challenges confronting Accra and other major urban centres.
She gave the assurance during a high-level stakeholder meeting involving driver unions, the Minister for Transport, and the Minister for Local Government, aimed at finding lasting solutions to the current public transport crisis.
According to the Vice President, President John Dramani Mahama has directed that support be extended to Metro Mass Transit, Aayalolo, and private transport operators through the provision of new buses to augment existing services.
“In this vein, His Excellency the President has asked me to assure all of you that he will give support to Metro Mass, Aayalolo and the private sector with new high-occupancy buses in order to augment services in the medium term,” Prof Opoku-Agyemang stated.
She explained that the planned procurement forms part of the government’s broader strategy to strengthen both state-owned transport companies and the private sector, which together carry the bulk of daily commuters across the country.
The Vice President noted that increasing capacity within the public transport system is critical to reducing congestion, improving mobility, and easing the burden on commuters.
At the same meeting, the Minister for Transport, Joseph Bukari Nikpe, expressed concern about the deteriorating state of public transport infrastructure, attributing it largely to years of neglect and inadequate investment in new vehicles.
“The Ministry of Transport and its agencies like Intercity STC and Metro Mass Transit Limited, and by extension Aayalolo under the Ministry of Local Government, have not seen any retooling of their vehicles,” Mr Nikpe said.
He explained that the lack of fleet renewal has placed enormous pressure on the few buses currently in operation, contributing to inefficiencies and overcrowding.
“This has brought pressure on the few vehicles that they are operating,” he added.
The Transport Minister also highlighted challenges within the private transport sector, noting that many operators have struggled over the years to replace ageing fleets.
“The private sector also, over the years, has not been able to renew the fleet they operate,” he said, adding that increased activity on major routes has worsened congestion and delays.
“With a lot of activities on our routes, congestion and delays in movement, it has become so difficult for us to control and manage our traffic situation,” he stated.
However, Mr Nikpe stressed that the government is determined to reverse the trend.
“The good news is that government is willing and prepared to retool our transport companies like the Intercity STC, the Metro Mass Transit Limited and Aayalolo under the Ministry of Local Government,” he assured.
The proposed intervention is expected to significantly improve urban mobility and restore confidence in Ghana’s public transport system.
