John Dumelo, Deputy Minister of Food and Agriculture and Member of Parliament for Ayawaso West Wuogon, says steps are being taken at the Transport Ministry to curb the recurring practice of passenger overcharging during peak hours, a problem he believes continues to place unnecessary strain on commuters across the country.
He made the remarks while responding to a widely shared video that captured him persuading stranded commuters to board a Metro Mass Transit bus. Mr Dumelo explained that the footage was recorded after he personally visited Metro Mass Transit, where he arranged for buses and covered the cost to transport passengers who had been left stranded at Okponglo and Shiashie while trying to travel toward Madina and Lapaz.
He said many of the affected commuters were unable to find transport home because some commercial drivers and their mates had arbitrarily raised fares beyond what passengers could afford.
Appearing on Onua FM’s Yen Nsempa Morning Show, Mr Dumelo said transport challenges resonate deeply with him, particularly given the role Ayawaso West Wuogon plays in the capital’s road network.
“The transport situation is an issue I am deeply passionate about, especially because most of the major roads lead to Ayawaso,” he said on Onua FM’s Yen Nsempa Morning Show.
He clarified that the free rides he arranged were not intended as a long-term solution, but as a short-term measure to relieve commuters who were facing immediate difficulties. According to him, the intervention is expected to last between one week and ten days.
“To be honest, if I had the money, I would buy buses to commute my people every single day,” Mr Dumelo said.
The MP stressed that lasting progress will depend on stronger coordination among state agencies, with the Ministry of Transport playing a central role in enforcing fare regulations and strengthening public transport services.
His intervention has sparked widespread public interest, with many commuters commending the gesture as both timely and humane at a moment when economic pressures continue to weigh heavily on households.
