Ghana’s urban transport challenges are no longer just a matter of convenience; they are an economic imperative that demands urgent attention.
This was the central message delivered by the Head of Brands and Marketing at Stanbic Bank Ghana, Mr. Mawuko Afadzinu, at the Stanbic Bank/Graphic Business Breakfast Meeting held in Accra.
Speaking under the theme: “Why Resetting Ghana’s Urban Transport System is an Economic Necessity,” on behalf of the Chief Executive, Mr. Afadzinu set the tone for the high-level dialogue by drawing a poignant contrast between Ghana’s past and present transport realities.
He recounted childhood memories of growing up in North Kaneshie, where a bus stop operated with a visible timetable indicating arrival times. According to him, schoolchildren could board buses free of charge and travel as far as Opera Square with predictability and ease.
“Back then, there was a system that allowed you to plan your day. You could leave home knowing the bus would arrive around a specific time. Even if there was a five or ten-minute delay, you adjusted slightly. Within 40 minutes, you would be at work. That level of certainty is not far-fetched; it is what many countries have refined and improved over time.”
He noted that several decades later, Ghana finds itself grappling with a very different reality. “Today, we must honestly ask ourselves: where did it go wrong? What happened to the system that once worked?” he queried.
Mr. Afadzinu stressed that the conversation about transport is fundamentally a conversation about productivity, national competitiveness and the country’s collective economic future. “This theme reflects an issue that touches every Ghanaian household, every business and every sector of our economy. Urban mobility is not just about moving people from one point to another; it directly affects output, cost of doing business, employee wellbeing and ultimately, economic growth.”
Describing the current situation as symptomatic of deeper structural weaknesses, he observed that traffic congestion in major cities has reached alarming levels, even in situations where the number of commercial vehicles on the road has reduced.
“It is not normal for traffic to remain this severe under such conditions. It points to deeply embedded, systemic challenges within our transport ecosystem. The system is stretched thin, and we must confront that truth.”
He referenced the recent difficulties experienced during the Christmas period, when commuters in several parts of the country reported long waiting times and severe congestion. According to him, although public discourse around the issue has waned in recent weeks, the underlying problems persist.
Mr. Afadzinu further cited a recent study by Glimmer Research, which estimates that traffic congestion is imposing GHS 4.5 billion loss to Ghana’s economy. “When congestion delays workers, disrupts supply chains and increases fuel consumption, the cumulative effect is a loss in productivity and competitiveness. In an increasingly interconnected and competitive global environment, we cannot afford inefficiencies that erode our economic potential.”
He called for a coordinated, multi-stakeholder approach to reforming the urban transport system, highlighting the need for strategic planning, policy coherence and long-term investment.
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