By: Sarah Baafi
Minister of Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs, Mahama Ayariga has proposed the use of police officers on motorbikes to escort Ayalolo buses operating on dedicated lanes during peak hours to improve the reliability of public transport and ease congestion in Accra.
Speaking during a visit to the Greater Accra Passenger Transport Executive on Tuesday, September 8, Mr Ayariga said the proposal could involve dedicating one lane on major roads to Ayalolo buses between 6 a.m. and 9 a.m., with a similar arrangement potentially introduced during the evening rush hour.
“We want to engage the Interior Minister, the IGP and his team to explore whether, during peak hours from 6 a.m. to 9 a.m., one of the lanes on the opposite side of the road can be dedicated to Ayalolo buses so they can move faster,” he said.
He also suggested deploying some of the motorbikes acquired for the Motor Traffic and Transport Directorate (MTTD) to lead the buses and provide advance warning to motorists.
“If we can have each bike lead an Ayalolo bus between 6 a.m. and 9 a.m., it could help ensure safety and provide advance warning to oncoming vehicles on designated major roads,” he said.
Mr Ayariga said the arrangement could initially be considered for major routes, including Adenta–Accra Central, Kasoa–Accra Central, Nsawam–Accra Central and Accra–Tema.
He stressed that the proposal was not yet government policy but an idea for consideration by the relevant authorities.
“I am not announcing them as policy; I am simply suggesting, from my non-engineering perspective, what we could potentially do,” he said.
According to him, clearly defined operating periods and public education would be necessary to ensure motorists understand when lanes would be dedicated to Ayalolo buses.
He proposed 6 a.m. to 9 a.m. for the morning peak and potentially 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. for the evening rush.
Mr Ayariga said the broader objective was to establish Ayalolo as a dependable rapid transport system that commuters could confidently rely on.
“Ultimately, we must establish Ayalolo as a reliable rapid transport system. If people know they can count on it, they will patronize it,” he said.
