Hon. Ahmed Ibrahim has revealed that the Government of Ghana is on the verge of securing a €1 million grant from the Spanish Embassy to breathe new life into the struggling Ayalolo bus service.
Speaking during a high-level meeting with Vice President Professor Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang and key transport stakeholders, the Minister for Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs stated that the infusion of funds is earmarked for a significant expansion of the current fleet.
“In 2014 to 2015, His Excellency the President of the Republic, President Mahama, also continued with the establishment of Ayalolo buses and also augmented the Kufuor buses. And that has been the trend.
“But for the past 10 years, there has not been retooling in all of these unions, and that’s why the problem is happening. When I assumed office, I called the Ayalolo boss and asked, ‘We gave you 200 buses in 2014. How many have you added?’ He said, ‘Zero’”
Hon. Ahmed Ibrahim, Minister for Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs
The move comes as the Greater Accra Region grapples with a deepening public transportation crisis characterized by skyrocketing fares, long commuter queues, and a visible shortage of commercial vehicles during peak hours. For the Minister, the current state of the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system is a direct consequence of a decade-long failure to retool.
Hon. Ibrahim disclosed that the lack of growth under previous management led to a swift change in leadership at the Greater Accra Passenger Transport Executive (GAPTE). He noted that the former administration’s failure to add even a single bus while the original fleet of 200 depreciated made their continued stay in office untenable.
According to the Minister, under the new leadership of Acting Managing Director Awudu Dawuda, the company has successfully lobbied the Spanish government for financial support.
However, the final release of the €1 million depends on a crucial administrative step: a “letter of no objection” from the Ministry of Finance. Hon. Ibrahim expressed optimism that the Vice President’s involvement in the sector’s challenges would expedite this process.
“The Spanish ambassador has been following up, and we need that support,” he added.
Addressing Commuter Agony
The Vice President’s visit to the transport sector is part of a broader government strategy to address what local media have described as the “agony of arrival,” for Accra’s workers. It is aimed at engaging sector leadership on the persistent challenges confronting public transportation, particularly in the Greater Accra Region
Public frustration has reached a boiling point – over the reduced availability of commercial vehicles during peak hours, inflated transport fares, and long waiting times – with groups like the Concerned Drivers Association demanding the removal of transport leadership over the perceived slow pace of reforms.
Adding up to the government’s response, the Minister of Government Communications, Hon. Felix Kwakye Ofosu, recently cautioned private operators against creating “artificial shortages to hike fares.”
By expanding the state-backed Ayalolo fleet, the government hopes to provide a reliable alternative that stabilizes prices and reduces waiting times at major terminals like the 37 Bus Stop and Kaneshie.
The Local Government Minister emphasized that the interest from the Spanish Embassy is a sign of restored donor confidence in the current administration’s management of local government resources.
He argued that by demonstrating a commitment to transparency and accountability – particularly in the use of public and donor funds – the Ministry is successfully attracting the international partnerships necessary to modernize Ghana’s urban infrastructure.
“We are very interested in ensuring that people are supported to account for what they are doing and that these funds make a real impact on our communities”
Hon. Ahmed Ibrahim, Minister for Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs
As the government awaits the Finance Ministry‘s clearance, the focus remains on ensuring that the new buses are integrated into a structured system that avoids the mechanical and governance pitfalls of the last decade.
READ ALSO: Yoon Sentenced to Five Years Over Martial Law Declaration
