By: Sarah Baafi
A fresh debate on Ghana’s transport strategy has emerged following remarks by Peter Kwakye-Ackah during a discussion on GTV Breakfast Show, where officials from the Transport Ministry and Metro Mass Transit Limited assessed the impact of 100 newly delivered buses.
Kwakye-Ackah acknowledged the government’s effort in procuring the buses but stressed that the intervention is insufficient to address Ghana’s growing transport challenges. He noted that while the addition of 100 buses is a step forward, the country still requires at least 200 more to ease pressure on commuters.
He argued that short-term fixes alone will not solve systemic issues in the transport sector. Instead, he called for a long-term strategy focused on sustainability and local capacity building. According to him, Ghana must shift away from reliance on imports and invest in assembling buses domestically through partnerships with private investors.
Kwakye-Ackah proposed the establishment of local assembly plants, supported by government incentives, to reduce costs and create jobs. He maintained that once buses are procured, they should be transferred to private operators under structured agreements to ensure proper maintenance and long-term efficiency.
He also raised concerns about past procurement exercises, citing challenges in accountability and maintenance of previously imported buses. He warned that continued state control without proper oversight risks repeating past failures.
Beyond road transport, Kwakye-Ackah pushed for a major shift toward rail infrastructure, particularly underground systems in urban centers. He argued that Ghana’s expanding cities require modern mass transit solutions that go beyond surface-level interventions.
He suggested that government should prioritize strategic infrastructure investments and consider public-private partnership models to finance large-scale rail projects. He added that reallocating funds from less critical projects could accelerate the development of such systems.
Kwakye-Ackah concluded that while current efforts may provide temporary relief, Ghana must adopt a comprehensive, forward-looking transport policy to meet future demand and stabilize costs influenced by external factors such as foreign exchange rates and fuel prices.
