By Grace Zigah
Accra were left stranded for hours during peak periods this week as the capital grappled with a deepening transport crisis, triggering sharp exchanges between transport operators and government officials over responsibility for the worsening situation.
The renewed hardship has brought the Transport Ministry under intense scrutiny, with the Concerned Drivers Association openly demanding the removal of Transport Minister Joseph Bukari Nikpe, whom they accuse of failing to manage the sector effectively despite mounting warning signs.
From Madina and Kasoa to Amasaman and Lapaz, commuters have complained of long queues at lorry stations, overcrowded vehicles, and the return of unapproved fares, even after recent reductions in fuel prices.
For many workers and students, daily commuting has become unpredictable, with some reporting delays stretching into hours during morning and evening rush periods.
The situation worsened during the 2025 Christmas season and has persisted into the new year, despite repeated assurances from authorities that measures were being put in place to ease pressure on the system.
At the centre of the backlash is the Public Relations Officer of the Concerned Drivers Association, David Agboado, who argues that the current difficulties are the result of weak leadership and poor stakeholder engagement at the Transport Ministry.
Speaking to JoyNews, Agboado said the Minister has failed to consistently engage transport unions on the operational and cost challenges facing drivers, making his continued stay in office “untenable.”
“The government must sit up and analyse the situation so we can solve it amicably. But frankly, the Transport Minister must go,” he said, accusing the Minister of non-performance at a time when other state institutions are showing visible results.
To underscore his point, Agboado contrasted the transport sector with what he described as improved performance at bodies such as the Gold Board, the Ministry of Finance, the Bank of Ghana and the National Petroleum Authority, citing currency stability and declining fuel prices as examples.
One of the key grievances raised by drivers relates to assurances given late last year that State Transport Company (STC) buses would be deployed to ease commuter congestion.
According to Agboado, those promises have not translated into visible relief on the roads.
“We were told STC buses would be brought in to reduce the pressure. Are they on the roads? Are people not still suffering?” he questioned.
He also criticised what he sees as the Minister’s narrow policy focus, arguing that the successful passage of the Okada Bill, which regulates commercial motorcycle transport, has come at the expense of addressing broader structural problems in urban mass transit.
“That is why some of us call him the ‘Okada Minister,’” he said, adding that motorcycles cannot substitute for high-capacity public transport on major routes such as Accra–Tema.
Cost pressures and ageing vehicles
Beyond leadership concerns, drivers say the crisis has deeper economic roots.
Agboado attributed the shrinking number of operational commercial vehicles to the high cost of spare parts, estimating that between 45 and 50 per cent of vehicles are currently off the road.
Despite relative stability of the cedi, he claimed spare parts prices have remained stubbornly high.
He cited examples such as Sprinter bus back axles rising from about GH¢5,000 to as much as GH¢8,000, and steering racks jumping from GH¢1,800 to GH¢2,500.
While tyre prices have eased slightly, he noted that more critical components—engines, axles and steering systems—remain unaffordable, especially given the age of many commercial vehicles still in service, some registered as far back as 2012.
Government, however, has pushed back against claims of ministerial failure.
The Minister of State in charge of Government Communications, Felix Kwakye Ofosu, has attributed much of the current hardship to unlawful practices by some private transport operators.
Speaking at the Government Accountability Series on January 14, 2026, Kwakye Ofosu said certain drivers deliberately create artificial shortages during peak hours to force passengers to pay higher fares, even after a 15 per cent reduction in official transport fares following successive fuel price cuts.
According to him, some drivers avoid designated lorry stations—particularly around areas like the Kwame Nkrumah Circle—and instead roam the city in search of desperate commuters willing to pay more.
“It is an unlawful activity, and government is taking steps to ensure those involved are dealt with,” he said, stressing that the transport sector is largely private-sector-led and organised by unions such as the GPRTU.
