Vice President Professor Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang has assured the public that the government is fully aware of the ongoing transport challenges and is taking steps to address them.
She gave the assurance at a meeting with officials from the Ministry of Transport, the Ministry of Local Government, and stakeholders in the transport sector on Friday, January 16.
Speaking at the meeting, the Vice President said the government recognises the difficulties commuters are facing, including congestion, long queues at terminals, and the high cost of transport.
“Sometimes, the problem is caused by all kinds of situations, including exploitation by some of our own drivers, long queues at bus stops and terminals, congestion, and all kinds of stress that come with the situation,” she said.
Prof. Opoku-Agyemang described the situation as a shared national concern that requires collective action.
“We want our fellow countrymen and women to be aware that the government is not blind to the situation, that we have not seen it and do not care. We do not think it is somebody’s problem; it is everybody’s problem. That is why I started by saying that we need to team up to find the solutions,” she stated.
The Vice President announced that the government will provide support to both public and private transport operators through the supply of new high-occupancy buses to help ease pressure on the system.
She said President John Dramani Mahama has directed that urgent steps be taken to strengthen existing transport services.
“His Excellency has asked me to assure all of you that he will give support to Metro Mass, Aayalolo, and the private sector with new high-occupancy buses in order to augment services in the medium term,” she said.
Prof. Opoku-Agyemang further revealed that the government will prioritise the rehabilitation of buses currently off the road due to mechanical faults.
“We also have plans to ensure that buses that need repairs are attended to quickly, with processes expedited to put more buses on the road as soon as possible,” she added.
Her comments come at a time when many commuters across the country are struggling to access commercial transport, a situation that has resulted in overcrowding, extended waiting times, and, in some cases, fare hikes.
Source: myxyzonline.com
