By Evans Worlanyo Ameamu, GNA
Keta (VR), Sept. 8, GNA – The Chamber for Price Control Ghana (CPCG) has called on the government to expand the country’s electric bus fleet, as a practical and sustainable solution to ease the burden of rising public transport fares on ordinary Ghanaians.
The Chamber said the expansion of the electric bus fleet would offer a cleaner, more affordable and more reliable alternative to the conventional fuel-powered vehicles that currently dominate the country’s public transport system.
Mr Seth Kwashie Azaglo-Tay, the Executive President of the CPCG, told the Ghana News Agency, that electric buses presented a unique opportunity to significantly bring down the cost of commuting for the ordinary citizens, and such vehicles operate on considerably lower running costs compared to petrol and diesel-powered vehicles, a savings that could be passed on directly to commuters in the form of reduced fares.
“The government earlier pilot introduction of electric buses under the Metro Mass Transit Limited (MMTL), have been launched on selected routes including Adentan to Accra and Ashaiman to Accra which demonstrate strong potential, with projections at the time indicating that electric buses could cut transport fares by as much as 40 to 50 per cent for commuters on those corridors,” he said.
He said it was time for government to build on that early success by scaling up the fleet nationwide, rather than allowing the initiative to stall, stressing that a wider rollout of electric buses across major transport corridors in the country would offer long-term relief to commuters currently grappling with the rising cost of transportation.
The CPCG Executive President argued that beyond the direct fare benefits, expanding the electric bus fleet would deliver a cleaner environment for urban centres, and that electric buses could cut greenhouse gas emissions by up to 70 per cent compared to fossil fuel-powered vehicles which would thereby improve air quality in cities and towns where the buses operate.
“An expanded electric bus fleet will also translate into better service delivery for commuters, such buses are typically designed with modern features, including wider doors and low-floor entry ramps, which enhance accessibility, comfort and overall passenger experience compared to the conventional trotro system.”
Mr Azaglo-Tay stressed that investing in electric buses aligned with a more sustainable future for the transport sector, while the initiative would balance economic relief for commuters with broader climate commitments under international environmental agreements.
The CPCG Executive President, however, cautioned that for such an expansion to succeed, government must ensure proper maintenance systems, adequate charging infrastructure, and efficient management of the fleet.
He pointed to the deterioration of the Aayalolo bus rapid transit system in recent years as a cautionary example of what happens when public transport investments are left unmaintained and under-resourced.
He urged the Ministry of Transport, in collaboration with Metro Mass Transit Limited and other transport agencies, to develop a clear and sustained roadmap for expanding the electric bus fleet across the country’s major cities and transport corridors.
He insisted that such an investment would serve the collective interest of cleaner environments, lower transport costs, better service for commuters, and a more sustainable transportation future for the country.
The CPCG reiterated its commitment to continue engagement with government and industry stakeholders on measures that would ease the cost of living for all, particularly in the transport sector, which remained one of the most significant areas of household expenditure across the country.
GNA
Edited by Maxwell Awumah/Linda Asante Agyei