Ayalolo buses will from Tuesday, September 29, 2026, commence a pilot Contra-Flow Bus Priority System on four heavily congested routes in the Greater Accra Metropolis.
The initiative, being rolled out by the Greater Accra Passenger Transport Executive (GAPTE), is aimed at improving the movement of public buses during peak hours by allowing Ayalolo services to operate under designated contra-flow arrangements on selected corridors.
The intervention forms part of efforts to address persistent traffic congestion in the capital while improving the efficiency, reliability and accessibility of public transportation.
Speaking at a press briefing in Accra on Monday, September 28, GAPTE Managing Director, Awudu Dawuda, said the pilot programme followed extensive preparations and a traffic simulation exercise involving key agencies responsible for transportation and traffic management.
He said GAPTE worked with the Motor Traffic and Transport Department (MTTD) of the Ghana Police Service, the Department of Urban Roads, the Ministry of Transport and the Accra Metropolitan Assembly to assess the proposed arrangements before their implementation.
According to Mr Dawuda, the exercise is intended to ensure that the contra-flow system could be introduced in a manner that improves bus movement while taking into account the broader traffic situation on the selected routes.
He explained that the initiative also aligns with the government’s Reset Agenda and the 24-Hour Economy Policy, which require an efficient public transport system capable of supporting workers and businesses beyond conventional commuting periods.
Mr Dawuda noted that reliable and affordable transportation was essential to enabling people to travel safely and efficiently at different times of the day, particularly as economic activities increasingly extend beyond traditional working hours.
He also acknowledged the contribution of the Minister for Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs, Mahama Ayariga, to the initiative.
The GAPTE Managing Director said the Minister had recognised that congestion in the Greater Accra Metropolitan Area is not solely a transportation issue but also had implications for local governance, economic productivity and the daily operations of Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies.
Mr Dawuda further commended the Minister for providing policy direction and helping to coordinate the various Assemblies and other stakeholders along the four selected corridors.
He said that coordination had helped create the conditions for the pilot to commence.
The contra-flow arrangement is expected to give Ayalolo buses greater priority during periods of heavy traffic, potentially reducing delays and improving the reliability of public transport services along the selected routes.
GAPTE is expected to use the pilot phase to evaluate the effectiveness of the system, identify operational challenges and gather evidence that could guide future decisions on bus priority and traffic management within the Greater Accra Metropolitan Area.
The exercise will therefore serve as a practical test of whether contra-flow arrangements can contribute to more efficient public transport operations and provide a basis for similar interventions on other congested corridors in the future.
By 1960news.com
