The Minister for Transport, Hon. Joseph Bukari Nikpe, has reiterated the government’s commitment to restoring efficiency and reliability in Ghana’s public transport system amid ongoing challenges facing commuters nationwide.
Addressing journalists in Accra, the Minister stressed that the Ministry remains actively engaged with transport unions, private operators, and stakeholders to find lasting solutions to the current transport difficulties that have affected parts of Accra and other major cities.
“We are working hard, and we are ready to collaborate with all unions and operators, public and private, to ensure our transport system works smoothly,” the Minister stated.
Hon. Bukari also highlighted longstanding operational setbacks within state-owned transport agencies, noting that Metro Mass Transit Limited (MMTL), Ayalolo, and Intercity STC have suffered from years of underinvestment, resulting in aged fleets and reduced capacity. He added that many vehicles have been operating without proper retooling or maintenance, significantly hampering service delivery.
“We have inherited a system that had long been neglected, so I am urging Ghanaians to judge the Ministry’s performance based on tangible results over time,” he said.
He pointed out that parts of Metro Mass and Ayalolo have been non-functional for extended periods, with some buses grounded and unable to serve commuters. The Ministry has also vowed additional buses to support commuters during peak hours, leveraging idle return vehicles from Intercity STC routes to ease congestion and waiting times across major corridors in Accra and surrounding areas. The government continues to patronize long-term strategies for fleet expansion and modernization, including discussions on private sector participation and potential introduction of new buses to supplement existing services.
The Minister assured the public that strategic interventions and dialogue remain at the core of efforts to stabilize Ghana’s transport sector for the benefit of commuters and national development.
