Commuters in parts of Accra are expressing growing frustration over persistent transport challenges, questioning the visibility and impact of newly procured buses intended to improve urban mobility.
Despite government assurances that additional buses would be deployed to ease congestion and reduce long queues at lorry stations, many passengers say the situation remains largely unchanged, with long waits still characterising peak morning hours and continued difficulty securing transport after work.
At several transport terminals, commuters report that the shortage has created conditions that allow drivers to impose higher fares, particularly in the afternoons. On the Madina–Dodowa route, passengers allege that some drivers still take advantage of peak demand periods as early as 2 p.m., charging fares described as unaffordable for regular commuters, especially those returning home after work.
Some commuters complained that transport operators are “doing whatever they want” because passengers have few alternatives, while others said they are “still standing in the same long queues” despite assurances that additional buses would ease the pressure.
Several passengers also questioned the impact of the government’s intervention, arguing that they are “not seeing the buses” on routes where transport shortages remain most severe. Others described the situation as an “unfulfilled promise,” insisting that daily commuting conditions have changed little since the announcement of the bus procurement programme. According to some commuters, transport remains “a daily struggle,” with many continuing to leave home earlier than usual to secure a seat and avoid being stranded during peak hours.
The concerns come amid earlier official statements indicating that new buses had begun arriving in the country as part of efforts to address what the government described at the time as “recent road transport challenges.” In remarks made on April 5, 2026, the Minister of State in Charge of Government Communications, Felix Kwakye Ofosu, noted that a first batch of “129-seater buses have arrived” under a broader procurement plan involving 300 units.
He further indicated that an additional 100 buses were expected in August, with a final batch scheduled for November, outlining a phased rollout intended to ease transport constraints.
However, questions remain among commuters about the deployment strategy and operational focus of the new fleet. While government communication suggests the buses are intended to ease pressure on the transport system, some transport operators and stakeholders have previously clarified, as reported, that aspects of the fleet are oriented toward intercity operations rather than intra-city routes such as Accra.
In a related clarification reported by MyJoyOnline, Metro Mass Transit indicated that 100 of the newly arrived buses are designated for intercity services and not specifically for Accra’s urban corridors, a distinction that has further fueled public concern over whether the capital’s transport pressure points will be directly addressed.
The Head of Corporate Communications at Metro Mass Transit Limited (MMTL), Mohammed Mubarak Watara, explained that the acquisition was not driven by intra-city operational needs, noting that the buses “didn’t come because of intra-city operations,” but rather formed part of a broader institutional restructuring. He further stated that the procurement was “an arrangement made by the current executives as a way of resetting Metro Mass,” undertaken with the directive and support of the Presidency and the Ministry of Transport.
For now, commuters continue to face long queues, inconsistent transport availability, and rising informal transport costs, even as authorities maintain that additional capacity is being progressively introduced into the system under the broader transport improvement programme.
