Some commuters on Achimota Old Road in Accra had no choice but to board cargo trucks on Thursday evening, as an acute shortage of commercial buses disrupted travel across key routes in the capital.
At Kwame Nkrumah Circle, residents heading to Amasaman and nearby communities waited for extended periods, with some standing for nearly an hour without securing a vehicle. Similar scenes were reported along the Achimota Old Road, where the scarcity of buses left commuters scrambling for alternatives.
Citi FM’s Julio Ashirifi Amoah reported that the situation became so severe that a cargo truck was converted into a makeshift commercial vehicles to transport stranded passengers. Many commuters expressed frustration over the situation to Citi News.
The worsening situation comes amid ongoing concerns about inflated fares, long queues, and a reduced number of vehicles during peak hours. Areas such as Madina, Amasaman, and Kasoa have been particularly affected in recent days.
WATCH: Stranded passengers at Achimota Old Station resort to boarding a cargo truck converted into a makeshift bus to reach their destinations.#CitiNewsroom #AchimotaOldStation #GhanaNews #ChannelOneTV #VehicleShortage pic.twitter.com/q9aukWADgP
— CITI FM 97.3 (@Citi973) January 15, 2026
Addressing the crisis during the Government Accountability Series on Wednesday, January 14, 2026, Minister of State in charge of Government Communications, Felix Kwakye Ofosu, blamed some private transport operators for creating artificial shortages to maximise profits.
Meanwhile, Senior Partner at AB & David Africa, David Ofosu-Dorte attributed the persistent public transport challenges to decades of political interference and weak institutional regulation.
Speaking on the Citi Breakfast Show on Thursday, January 15, 2026, he said the sector’s politicisation has undermined efficiency, scheduling, and service quality.
Tracing the problem back to the 1970s, Mr. Ofosu-Dorte recalled efforts by successive governments to improve urban transport through state-backed institutions. He noted that the government in 1974, established the Omnibus Licensing Authority and the Winneba Services Authority, whose bus operations later evolved into Metro Mass Transit Limited.
However, he noted that although bus services were introduced, the accompanying regulatory framework was never fully implemented, leaving the system vulnerable and contributing to the transport crises experienced today.
Accra’s public transport in crisis: Queues, bus shortages expose policy failures
