Accra: Deputy Minister of Transport, Dorcas Toffey, has announced that the government is initiating measures to alleviate overcrowding at major bus stations, especially during peak hours. The introduction of a new fleet of Metro Mass buses is anticipated by the end of the month or early March to mitigate congestion challenges.
According to Ghana Web, Dorcas Toffey elaborated that teams from the Ministry of Transport and Metro Mass Transit Limited have been conducting inspections abroad to ensure the buses meet necessary standards before their shipment. 'I just returned from Dubai, where we inspected some buses. The Managing Director of Metro Mass is also travelling to China for a final inspection of buses we have already assessed,' she mentioned.
The inspections aim to verify that all buses are in optimal condition and ready for immediate use once they arrive in the country. Toffey assured that the first batch of buses will soon be integrated into the public transport system. 'We should be expecting the first fleet by the end of this month or in the first week of March,' she stated.
Acknowledging the pressing issue of congestion at bus terminals, Toffey expressed the government's dissatisfaction with the current situation. She highlighted that President John Dramani Mahama is committed to resolving this matter. 'A lot is going on behind the scenes because we know what is happening is not acceptable,' she said.
The Deputy Minister further emphasized the government's ongoing efforts to procure additional buses to enhance the public transport network and alleviate commuter stress. 'We are doing everything possible to ensure that the congestion is addressed,' she assured.