Accra Commuters Still Face Long Queues Despite Transport Reforms

Commuters in Accra are facing difficulties getting to work despite ongoing government efforts to address the city’s transport challenges.

Workers, schoolchildren, traders, and others from all walks of life spend hours commuting from their homes to various destinations, especially in the mornings and evenings, during the peak of rush hour.

The situation is exacerbated by a depleted number of commercial vehicles, with drivers overpricing the transport fare for the same distance covered.

Although plans are underway by the Ministry of Transport to procure high-occupancy buses to support private transport operators, many commuters are still spending long and unproductive hours in winding queues at major terminals across the capital.

At the Ayalolo Bus Terminal in Amasaman, commuters who spoke to JoyNews’ Gemma Appiah on January 19 described the situation as a daily struggle.

One commuter said the delays had become routine and were having a serious impact on his work schedule.

“This has been going on every day, and it is serious,” he said, explaining that he often waits between 30 and 40 minutes before getting a vehicle to Adjiringanor each morning.

Another commuter shared a similar experience, saying he had been in the queue for nearly 40 minutes and was still waiting for a vehicle, despite needing to be at work by 7:30 am.

The situation is not limited to Amasaman, as commuters from Lapaz to Circle, Kasoa to Accra and Ablekuma to Circle also face such challenges.

The underlying crisis in the transport sector remains volatile: Sector Instability, Operational Costs, and the Abossey Okai contradiction.

The Concerned Drivers Association has intensified calls for the dismissal of the Transport Minister, accusing the leadership of failing to implement long-promised spatial and transport master plans that could alleviate congestion.

The Abossey Okai Spare Parts Dealers Association noted that costs for Mercedes-Benz Sprinter components—the backbone of the city’s transport fleet—have seen sharp increases.

The Minister of State in charge of Government Communication, Felix Kwakye Ofosu, has urged the public to resist paying any fare that has not been officially gazetted.

The Chairman of the Abossey Okai Dealers Association, Frank Otchere, said prices of most spare parts have fallen, largely due to the appreciation of the cedi against the US dollar.

Image Source: MYJOYONLINE