There is a growing and deeply concerning trend in the capital city that seems to worsen with each passing day. Every morning and evening, major bus stops across Accra are overcrowded with long queues, visible frustration, and a sense of helplessness among commuters.
A typical example can be seen at Madina Zongo Junction, where hundreds of people wait endlessly for transportation to their destinations. In some cases, commuters spend several hours in queues before securing a seat. Trotro drivers, who dominate the city’s public transport system, sometimes refuse to move for extended periods, and when they eventually do, many charge exorbitant fares.
This situation raises a fundamental question: with a fully constituted Ministry of Transport, why do we still lack an efficient and reliable public transport system?
The effects of this transport crisis extend far beyond inconvenience. It is gradually contributing to unethical behaviour within the public and civil service. When access to affordable and timely transport becomes a daily struggle, the temptation to seek shortcuts; sometimes through corrupt means grows stronger as individuals strive to afford private vehicles.
Beyond this, the health and psychological implications are profound. The stress of long queues, coupled with exposure to air pollution and overcrowded vehicles, poses a silent but serious public health concern.
Accra’s urban transport challenges call for urgent and strategic intervention. The city does not need more private cars clogging its roads. What it needs is a modern, efficient, and comfortable public transport system that restores dignity to daily commuting and eases the burden on its citizens.
By Nash Odoi