The Greater Accra Passenger Transport Executive (GAPTE) recently repaired and deployed 48 grounded Aayalolo buses onto the streets of Accra. Bringing dozens of idle vehicles back to life sounds like a major victory for public transit, but fixing the engines only solves half the problem. As long as these buses remain stuck in heavy traffic alongside private vehicles, high operational costs will continue to drain resources.
The fundamental issue boils down to a lack of dedicated bus lanes. Ghana initially planned the Aayalolo Bus Rapid Transit system to run on segregated corridors, giving commuter buses priority over regular traffic. Instead, these massive vehicles now crawl through daily rush hour congestion, burning expensive fuel and accelerating engine wear and tear.
As part of the roadblock, constant stop-and-go driving sharply increases fuel consumption compared to smooth, dedicated corridor travel. Heavy traffic places excessive stress on brakes, transmissions, and cooling systems, forcing frequent and costly mechanical repairs. Also,Traffic delays slow down turn-around times, resulting in fewer total trips and significantly reduced daily ticket sales.
Restoring 48 broken-down buses certainly expands fleet capacity, but deploying them back into unmanaged traffic creates a cycle of rapid deterioration. Transport managers will soon find themselves making the same expensive repairs all over again if the underlying infrastructure remains neglected.
To make public transportation truly sustainable in Accra, urban planners must prioritize enforcement and construction of dedicated transit lanes. Reviving old buses gives commuters temporary relief, but providing clear, unobstructed roads is the only way to safeguard municipal investments and keep long-term operational costs under control.
