Mounting congestion, long queues and daily commuter frustrations have prompted government to move swiftly to expand public transport capacity with the introduction of new high-occupancy buses across the country.
The Vice-President, Professor Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang, announced that the buses will be deployed to support Metro Mass Transit, Ayalolo and private transport operators during an emergency meeting with ministers and transport union leaders in Accra on Friday.
She disclosed this during a visit to the Ministry of Transport in Accra on Friday, where she engaged leaders and managers within the transport sector.
Present at the meeting were representatives of the The Ghana Private Road Transport Union (GPRTU), Concerned Drivers Association of Ghana, Ghana Committed Drivers Association, and the Ghana National Cargo Transport Association.
According to her, the President has directed support be given to Metro Mass Transit, Ayalolo and private operators through the introduction of new high-occupancy buses to expand capacity and reduce pressure on the current fleet.
She added that efforts are underway to fast-track payments owed to service providers so they can deploy more buses onto the roads as quickly as possible.
Professor Opoku-Agyemang described the current transportation situation as a shared national challenge that requires cooperation from government, operators and commuters.
She urged transport leaders to closely monitor their associations to prevent misconduct, including passenger exploitation and disregard for safety protocols.
The Vice-President stressed the need for fairness, accountability and mutual respect within the sector, calling on operators to communicate clearly and courteously with passengers.
She acknowledged the stress caused by long queues, congestion and rush-hour pressures, noting that these daily experiences have become a source of widespread concern.
“I want to ensure that no passenger feels exploited, whether through fares, queues or lapses in safety protocols,” she said, appealing for patience and cooperation as government implements measures to address the problem.
She assured commuters and operators that authorities were fully aware of their frustrations and not indifferent to what was happening on the roads.
She explained that congestion, which initially appeared seasonal during the Christmas period, was becoming a sustained issue.
While recognising the pressures faced by drivers and operators, she indicated that years of limited support should not justify persistent tension or poor behaviour within the sector.
Additionally, Professor Opoku-Agyemang highlighted that recent reports and images showing commuter suffering during morning and evening rush hours were deeply troubling. “These include overcrowding, long queues at terminals and cases of exploitation by some drivers.”
She reaffirmed government’s commitment to improving both passenger and driver welfare, highlighting road rehabilitation as a key intervention with wide-reaching benefits.
She called for professionalism and collective effort to build a transport system that prioritises fairness, efficiency and excellence, stressing that respect for passengers would help restore trust and improve service delivery nationwide.
The Minister for Transport, Joseph Bukari Nikpe, in his remarks, said the ministry has recorded a sharp increase in road usage and economic activity within intra-city areas since December.
He explained that although temporary measures were introduced during the festive season to ease congestion, the return to full economic activity has put enormous pressure on the limited number of vehicles in operation.
“They want to see more buses. They want to see government supporting GPRTU and other unions,” he emphasised, stressing that a functional transport system was critical to economic growth.
Representatives from transport union appealed to government to urgently prioritise the acquisition of more buses, warning that without immediate fleet expansion, commuter hardships would worsen.
BY AGNES OPOKU SARPONG
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