The Executive Secretary of the Chamber of Petroleum Consumers (COPEC), Duncan Amoah, has expressed concerns regarding ongoing systemic issues in Ghana’s public transport sector, as commuters in the Greater Accra Region continue to face delays and a significant shortage of vehicles.
Speaking in an interview, Amoah stated that the current situation stems from years of neglect and inadequate planning by the Ministry of Transport, which he believes now necessitates immediate 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 raised questions about the nature of interactions between transport unions and the Ministry of Transport, pointing out that discussions often focus solely on fare adjustments while neglecting the broader structural challenges that drivers face.
He emphasised that critical matters such as vehicle maintenance, operational safety, and the lack of comprehensive systemic support seldom appear in policy discussions, leaving drivers to work under challenging conditions without significant 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 in an interview monitored by The Ghana Report on Channel One TV.
His remarks come in the context of increasing frustration among commuters, many of whom find it difficult to secure transport during peak morning and evening hours in Accra.
Residents have reported being stranded along major routes due to vehicle shortages, a situation exacerbated by the rapid population growth in the city’s expanding outskirts.
Meanwhile, Vice President Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang has reaffirmed the government’s commitment to modernising and expanding transport services as part of efforts to enhance access and alleviate the challenges faced by commuters.
