The Minister for Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs, Mahama Ayariga, has proposed the creation of dedicated traffic lanes for Aayalolo buses during peak hours to improve the efficiency of public transport in Accra.
The proposal is aimed at reducing the time Aayalolo buses spend in heavy traffic and making the service a more attractive alternative for commuters who rely on private vehicles.
Speaking during a visit to the Greater Accra Passenger Transport Executive, Mr Ayariga said the government would need to engage relevant institutions, including the Ministries of Roads and Highways, Transport and the Interior, to assess how dedicated routes could be introduced.
Under the proposed arrangement, Aayalolo buses could be given priority on selected roads, with the lanes adjusted according to the direction of traffic during peak periods.
Mr Ayariga believes a more reliable and faster Aayalolo service could encourage more commuters to leave their cars at home and use public transport instead.
“The principle of a special route for you so that you don’t spend time in traffic and then burn fuel in traffic and therefore be able to recover your cost, that is something also that we need to look at. I think that is where the problem is. We need to sit and then map out the city and the routes.
“If the people know they can sit in Aayalolo and get to work in 20 minutes, and then sit in Aayalolo and get home in 20 minutes, trust me, they will leave their cars and join you.
“So we need to establish that and we sit and examine the situation with MTTU and figure out how we can actually make AAayalolo a rapid public transport system. And once we are able to do that one.”
The Minister said the proposed system would require careful mapping of the city and Aayalolo routes, as well as collaboration with the Motor Traffic and Transport Department (MTTD) and other relevant authorities.
The broader objective is to reposition Aayalolo as a rapid public transport service capable of providing commuters with faster, more predictable journeys across Accra.
