Urban transport reform vital for productivity – Mawuko Afadzinu

Ghana’s urban transport challenges have evolved beyond issues of convenience and now pose a serious economic concern that requires urgent attention.

This was the key message delivered by the Head of Brands and Marketing at Stanbic Bank Ghana, Mawuko Afadzinu, during the Stanbic Bank/Graphic Business Breakfast Meeting held in Accra.

Speaking on behalf of the bank’s Chief Executive under the theme “Why Resetting Ghana’s Urban Transport System is an Economic Necessity,” Afadzinu set the tone for the high-level discussion by contrasting Ghana’s past transport system with its current challenges.

He recalled his childhood in North Kaneshie, where bus stops operated with clearly displayed timetables that indicated arrival times. According to him, the system allowed commuters to plan their day effectively.

Schoolchildren, he said, could board buses free of charge and travel as far as Opera Square with relative ease and predictability.

“Back then, there was a system that allowed you to plan your day. You could leave home knowing the bus would arrive around a specific time. Even if there was a five or ten-minute delay, you adjusted slightly. Within 40 minutes, you would be at work. That level of certainty is not far-fetched; it is what many countries have refined and improved over time,” he said.

However, Afadzinu noted that decades later, Ghana’s transport landscape has changed significantly, prompting serious questions about what went wrong.

“Today, we must honestly ask ourselves: where did it go wrong? What happened to the system that once worked?” he asked.

He emphasised that discussions about transport must go beyond mobility and be viewed within the broader context of productivity, national competitiveness and the country’s economic future.

“This theme reflects an issue that touches every Ghanaian household, every business and every sector of our economy. Urban mobility is not just about moving people from one point to another; it directly affects output, the cost of doing business, employee wellbeing and ultimately economic growth,” he stated.

Afadzinu described the current situation as a reflection of deeper structural weaknesses within the transport sector. He observed that traffic congestion in major cities has become increasingly severe, even in situations where the number of commercial vehicles on the roads has declined.

“It is not normal for traffic to remain this severe under such conditions. It points to deeply embedded systemic challenges within our transport ecosystem. The system is stretched thin, and we must confront that reality,” he said.

He also referenced difficulties experienced during the Christmas period, when commuters across various parts of the country faced long waiting times and heavy congestion.

According to him, although public discussions about the issue have subsided in recent weeks, the underlying problems remain unresolved.

Afadzinu further cited findings from a study conducted by Glimmer Research, which estimates that traffic congestion costs Ghana’s economy about GHS 4.5 billion annually.

“When congestion delays workers, disrupts supply chains and increases fuel consumption, the cumulative effect is a loss of productivity and competitiveness. In an increasingly interconnected and competitive global environment, we cannot afford inefficiencies that erode our economic potential,” he said.

He therefore called for a coordinated, multi-stakeholder approach to reforming Ghana’s urban transport system, stressing the need for strategic planning, policy alignment and sustained long-term investment.