ACCRA, Ghana, 9 April: The Government of Ghana has directed the Ministry of Transport to expedite the deployment of newly acquired Metro Mass Transit buses to help ease the burden on Ghanaians following the recent surge in fuel prices.
According to the Minister of State in charge of Government Communications, Felix Kwakye Ofosu, the move forms part of a broader strategy to cushion citizens against the economic impact of rising fuel costs driven by the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.
Briefing the media after a Cabinet meeting focused on measures to protect the economy from external shocks, Hon. Kwakye Ofosu outlined the decision to deploy additional buses to improve public transportation and reduce commuting costs.
“The transport minister has also been instructed to ensure the expedited deployment of newly acquired metro mass buses. You recall that over the weekend, I announced the arrival of 100 metro mass buses. Another batch of 100 buses are expected in August. And then the last batch of 100 are expected in November to make up 300. But currently we have 100 available.
He further revealed that Cabinet has directed the Transport Minister to prioritise high-traffic routes to maximise the impact of the intervention.
“And the transport minister has been instructed by cabinets to ensure expedited deployment of these buses in high traffic corridors to ensure that it alleviates any difficulties that may have arisen out of the recent price increases” he said.
In addition, the Ministry has been tasked to ensure that fares on the Metro Mass buses remain affordable and lower than those charged by private transport operators.
“The transport minister has also been charged with ensuring that these metro mass buses, in addition to the existing ones, charge or maintain transport fares, which are lower than what private sector operators charge. And this is to ensure that Ghanaians are cushioned, especially when we reach peak periods at the rush hour” he said.
Story by: Emmanuel Romeo Tetteh(#RomeoWrites✍️)/Ahotoronline.com | Ghana 🇬🇭