The Executive Secretary of the Chamber of Petroleum Consumers (COPEC), Duncan Amoah, has raised concerns over persistent systemic problems in Ghana’s public transport sector, as commuters in the Greater Accra Region continue to grapple with delays and an acute shortage of vehicles.
Speaking on Channel One TV’s Big Issue on Saturday, January 17, Amoah said the situation is the result of years of neglect and poor planning by the Ministry of Transport, which he believes now requires urgent attention.
“These are systematic issues we have refused to deal with. Public transport planning has been lacking completely. We rely on a system that is neither adequately funded nor properly regulated,” he said.
Amoah also questioned the nature of engagements between transport unions and the Ministry of Transport, noting that discussions are often limited to fare adjustments while broader structural challenges facing drivers are overlooked.
He stressed that critical issues such as vehicle maintenance, operational safety, and the absence of comprehensive systemic support rarely feature in policy discussions, leaving drivers to operate under difficult conditions without meaningful state intervention.
“The only visible role of authorities is to call transport unions to negotiate fare adjustments. There is no reinvestment from the state to improve conditions for drivers or enhance the system as a whole,” he said.
His comments come amid growing frustration among commuters, many of whom struggle to secure transport during peak morning and evening hours in Accra. Residents report being stranded along major routes due to vehicle shortages, a situation worsened by rapid population growth in the city’s expanding outskirts.
Meanwhile, Vice President Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang has reiterated the government’s commitment to modernising and expanding transport services as part of efforts to improve access and ease the challenges faced by commuters.
Poor planning, lack of deliberate policies fueling transport crisis – Titus Beyuo
