Transport Minister pushes for cross-sector cooperation to fix Ghana’s transport woes
5th February 2026
The Minister of Transport, Joseph Bukari Nikpe, has underscored the urgency of deeper collaboration among government institutions and industry players to resolve long-standing inefficiencies within Ghana’s transport sector.
Speaking on Asempa FM’s Ekosii Sen programme, Mr. Nikpe described transport as a multi-sector system that cannot function effectively when agencies operate in silos. He noted that many past challenges stemmed from weak coordination, but said the current administration has deliberately strengthened inter-ministerial cooperation over the past year to drive reforms.
He revealed that recent high-level engagements, including meetings involving the Vice President and transport unions, have focused on addressing deteriorating road conditions that slow vehicle turnaround times and worsen congestion. As part of the response, the ministry is working to open inner perimeter roads and establish designated parking and offloading zones to ease traffic pressure in busy urban centres.
The minister also pointed to the role of the Ministry of Local Government, explaining that Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives are actively implementing decongestion measures, while plans are underway to modernise and retool the Ayalolo bus system to improve intra-city transport services.
According to Mr. Nikpe, collaboration with the Ministry of the Interior has boosted police presence on major roads to ensure smoother traffic flow, while engagement with the Ministry of Trade is targeting the high cost of spare parts — a major concern for drivers and transport operators.
He recalled that although government successfully negotiated a 15 percent reduction in transport fares last year, resistance from drivers emerged due to rising spare parts prices linked to currency volatility. With the cedi now relatively stable and fuel prices easing, discussions are ongoing to bring down spare parts costs, including plans by the Trade Ministry to introduce a price-monitoring application to promote transparency.
Looking ahead, Mr. Nikpe said the ministry intends to retool key state transport agencies such as Metro Mass Transit and the State Transport Company (STC), while scaling up public education on road safety through the National Road Safety Authority.
He expressed confidence that sustained collaboration across sectors will help decongest cities, improve traffic flow, and deliver more efficient and reliable transport services nationwide.