Vice President Prof. Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang, has paid a day’s working visit to the Ministry of Transport, at a time there is mass shortage of commercial buses popularly known as trotro in Accra.
The shortage of buses has reportedly extended to Kumasi, the Ashanti Regional capital where videos have emerged a group of taskforce leashing attacks on drivers and their ‘mates’.
The visit on Friday, January 16, is to afford her the opportunity to hold critical discussions with the sector minister, Joseph Bukari Nikpe to find ways to tackle the crisis in Accra.
She was met upon arrival by the minister and his deputy Dorcas Affo Toffey, the Member of Parliament (MP) for the Jomoro constituency.
Prof Opoku-Agyepamn after discussion with the minister will proceed to very busy markets including Kaneshie and Adenta, where she is scheduled to engage leaders of the Ghana Private Road and Transport Union (GPRTU), to collectively mitigate the transport challenges.
The shortage was initially attributed to the usual Christmas festivities where people flood the capital especially the Central Business District (CBD) for shopping and other activities.
Due to the intensity of the situation and exorbitant fares vehicle operators charged, government deployed a number of buses for four busy routes including the Kasoa- Circle-Accra.
However, two weeks after the yuletide, the situation persists leading to the GPRTU holding a meeting and dispatching a taskforce unto the roads to whip members in line. This is coming at a time the Metro Mass Transit has cut intercity services to ease Accra rush-hour pressure.
Member of Parliament (MP) for the Ayawaso West Wuogon constituency and Deputy Minister for Food and Agriculture, John Setor Domelo, has been spotted in multiple videos facilitating buses for commuters on the Shiashie- Madina-Adenta road at no cost.
The behavior of the drivers, who are charging outrageous and unapproved fares have been described as unjustified especially at a time fuel prices and spare parts continue to reduce.
By Gifty Boateng