Cabinet has directed the Transport Minister to immediately deploy 100 newly arrived Metro Mass buses on the country’s busiest corridors, as part of a package of measures to cushion Ghanaians from rising fuel prices.
The directive, announced on Thursday after an emergency cabinet session, comes days after President Mahama revealed the arrival of the first batch of buses over the weekend.
Two additional batches of 100 buses each are expected; one in August and a final batch in November, bringing the total fleet addition to 300.
The Minister of State in charge of Government Communications, Felix Kwakye Ofosu explained that the directive demanded and expedite deployment
“The transport minister has been instructed by cabinet 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.
Beyond deployment, the Transport Minister has been charged with ensuring that Metro Mass buses, both new and existing , maintain fares that are lower than those charged by private sector operators.
The aim, the minister said, is to ensure that Ghanaians have an affordable alternative on the roads, especially at rush hour and during peak travel periods.