Nearly seven decades after independence, Ghana still lacks a reliable urban transport system, a failure that warrants an apology to citizens, according to the finance lecturer at the University of Ghana, Prof Godfred Bokpin.
Speaking on TV3’s The KeyPoints on January 17, Prof Bokpin said the persistent transport struggles facing city residents reflect poorly on successive governments that have overseen urban development since colonial rule ended.
“We should be apologising to Ghanaians. 68 years after independence, we cannot provide an efficient urban transport system,” he said.
He argued that the daily ordeal many commuters endure to get to and from work, particularly in Accra, is not accidental but the result of long-standing neglect by city authorities.
“Any serious country should not take its citizens through this,” he stressed.
Prof Bokpin explained that poor planning and weak forecasting have allowed the problem to fester for years, gradually intensifying into what he now describes as a crisis.
“This has been happening over the years. It is now reaching crisis levels. And it is due to lack of planning and forecast by the authorities,” he stated.
While acknowledging factors such as increased rural-urban migration and the country’s heavy reliance on road transport, he described the current situation as “unfortunate” and avoidable with deliberate policy choices.
He further linked Ghana’s transport challenges to the rising cost of living in major cities, particularly food prices, noting that inefficiencies in moving goods from production centres to urban markets continue to drive up costs.
“The high cost of food in Accra and other cities is due to transport challenges,” Prof Godfred Bokpi disclosed.
