Gov’t to support Metro Mass, Ayalolo with new buses amid bus struggles

The government has announced plans to support Metro Mass, Ayalolo, and private operators with new buses as persistent shortages continue to strain public transport services.

Vice President Professor Naana Jane Opoku-Agyeman disclosed this during a high-level engagement at the Transport Ministry on Friday morning with Transport Minister Joseph Nikpe Bukari and leaders of transport unions.

She said the intervention is aimed at easing commuter hardships and strengthening public confidence in the transport system.

“In this vein, His Excellency, the President, has asked me to assure all of you that he will give support to Metro Mass, Ayalolo and the private sector with new high-occupancy buses,” the Vice President said.

She explained that the additional buses would help augment existing services in the medium term.

The announcement comes at a time when bus struggles have become increasingly visible across major corridors, with commuters frequently stranded by the roadside for long hours.

Many passengers report that the few buses that stop to pick them up often charge higher fares, deepening frustration among workers, students and traders who rely on public transport daily.

Prof Opoku-Agyeman said government is also moving to restore idle capacity within the system.

“We also have plans to ensure that those that need to be repaired, that the process will be expedited to ensure they can put more buses on the road as soon and as quickly as possible,” she stated.

Beyond fleet expansion, the Vice President stressed that the transport challenge cannot be separated from the condition of roads nationwide.

She described road rehabilitation as a critical intervention with wide-reaching implications for health, productivity and access to essential services. “Fixing the roads is very, very important for us. It is not just for the drivers or the passengers, but for all of us,” she said.

She urged operators to complement government support with professionalism and respect for passengers.

“We want to ensure that no passenger feels exploited, whether through fares, queues, or lapses in safety protocols,” she noted, adding that transparency and accountability must guide service delivery.

The Vice President also called on transport union leaders to monitor their members to prevent misconduct that fuels public anger.

She said sustained cooperation between government and operators is essential to building a transport system that is fair, efficient and secure, while restoring trust in both state-run and private transport services.