The Deputy Managing Director of Metro Mass Transit (MMT), Mr. Haruna Apaw-Wiredu, has sounded the alarm over the company’s rapidly declining operational capacity, revealing that only 115 route buses are currently active nationwide each month—an amount he says falls far short of government expectations for effective mass public transport.
Speaking to the media, Mr. Apaw-Wiredu questioned the viability of meeting national transport demands with such limited resources.
“Is 115 buses enough to do what the government expects us to do?” he asked pointedly.
He traced the decline to years of fleet depletion. In 2005, Metro Mass Transit operated about 500 buses after the fleet was fully paid for under the administration of former President John Agyekum Kufuor. By 2009, however, a total of 2,420 buses had been scrapped during the Mills–Mahama era. The situation worsened in 2024, when an additional 700 buses were withdrawn from service.
The shortage is most acute in the Greater Accra Region, Ghana’s most densely populated area. MMT currently operates just 10 Electric Vehicle (EV) buses in the region, some of which have already broken down. These buses serve routes including Adenta–Madina–Opeibea–Circle, Adenta–Accra–Kaneshie, and Kaneshie–Tema.
Mr. Apaw-Wiredu admitted the numbers are clearly inadequate, noting that long queues at major bus terminals have become routine for commuters in the capital.
As a short-term response, Metro Mass Transit has intensified repair works on grounded buses. About 10 buses have been returned to service this week, with another 10 expected to be operational by next week after undergoing mechanical repairs. Management is also reviewing fleet deployment nationwide and may temporarily reassign buses from low-demand regions to Accra.
In a significant boost, President John Dramani Mahama has approved the procurement of 300 new Isuzu buses from Egypt. The 29-seater buses will be delivered in three phases:
First 100 buses by the first week of March, to be inaugurated by the President
Second batch by June
Final 100 buses by August, completing the delivery
MMT clarified that the entire fleet will not be concentrated in Accra. About 50 buses will serve key intra-city routes such as Accra–Tema, Accra–Lapaz, Accra–Adenta, and Accra–Kasoa, while the rest will be distributed across other regions.
The company says it will evaluate the impact of its immediate measures over the next two weeks before rolling out longer-term solutions. In addition, MMT is engaging private investors to introduce more Toyota Hiace and coastal buses, including 15- and 29-seater vehicles, to strengthen operations.
“Our priority is to deliver a sustainable solution, not a temporary fix,” Mr. Apaw-Wiredu emphasized.
Story: Nyamebeye Kofi Ansah Sasraku