The acting Managing Director of the Greater Accra Passenger Transport Executive (GAPTE), Awudu Dawuda, has revealed that only 80 out of the 245 Ayalolo buses procured by the government in 2016 are currently in operation in Accra.

The development has worsened the transport situation in the capital, with commuters forced to endure long queues and extended waiting times, particularly during peak hours.

Ayalolo, a Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system introduced in 2016 and managed by GAPTE, was designed to ease traffic congestion and provide a reliable and scheduled public transport service for urban commuters. However, its operations have slowed significantly in recent years.

Mr Dawuda explained that although all 245 buses were procured to operate exclusively within Accra, a large number were later redeployed to other regions.

“When I took over, we were left with only 80 buses out of the 245 buses that the government procured in 2016. The buses were meant to operate in Accra alone, but 60 were taken to Kumasi, 10 to Takoradi, and another 10 to Tamale at the behest of the then Ministry of Transport,” he said in an interview with Accra-based Citi FM.

He noted that the redeployment significantly affected Ayalolo’s ability to meet commuter demand in the capital.

Mr Dawuda, however, indicated that measures are being put in place to restore operations, including efforts to return buses currently stationed outside Accra.

“I wrote to the authorities in charge of the buses in Kumasi, and approval has been granted for us to bring the 60 buses there back to Accra,” he disclosed.

He further revealed that close to 60 additional buses had been parked due to breakdowns, further reducing the number of operational vehicles.

''Nearly 60 of the buses were parked because they had broken down. We have repaired some of them through our own means to get them back on the road,” he added.

Mr Dawuda expressed optimism that the ongoing interventions would help ease the transport burden on commuters in Accra in the coming weeks.