The Chief Executive Officer of the National Petroleum Authority (NPA), Godwin Kudzo Tameklo, has called for a stronger role for the state in Ghana’s public transportation system, arguing that public transport should not be left entirely in the hands of private operators.
The NPA boss said that the dominance of private operators in the public transport sector raises national security concerns, particularly because transportation is an essential service that affects the daily lives of millions of Ghanaians.
Speaking in an intervie, the NPA CEO said the state must take an active role in the provision and management of public transportation to ensure that the sector remains accessible, reliable and responsive to the needs of the population.
He further linked the heavy reliance on private operators to the frequent adjustments in transport fares, which he said tend to place additional financial pressure on commuters whenever fuel prices rise.
He maintained that a stronger state presence, particularly through the provision of buses and other public transport services, could help cushion commuters from the immediate effects of increases in fuel prices.
“I have always maintained that from a purely national security point of view, public transport should not be left in the hands of the private sector only. The state must have an active role in public transportation. The Finance Minister [Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson] has given the assurance that he is going to ensure that we buy more buses.
“I have also seen that the Local Government Minister is prescribing a situation where even the Aayalolo buses will have police escorts to be able to move, so more people can make use of that potential public transport. And so it is something that we have our eyes on, and we want to ensure that the impact of fuel price increases is not immediately passed on to Ghanaians.”
