More than 8,000 passengers are transported daily by the Aayalolo contra-flow system being implemented by the government to ease passenger congestion in Accra at peak hours.
The system, which was introduced on September 29, 2026, currently operates on three major corridors of Adenta, Amasaman and Kasoa.
The Managing Director of GAPTE, Dawuda Awudu, in an interview with the Ghana News Agency (GNA) on Thursday, said the initiative had improved mobility and helped commuters save considerable time on their daily journeys.
He said each Aayalolo bus could accommodate about 85 passengers, enabling the service to transport thousands of commuters through multiple trips daily.
“Look at one Aayalolo bus that takes around 85 passengers. If you have 10 of the buses, you are talking about 850 passengers per trip,” he said.
He explained that with 10 buses making multiple trips, the system could move more than 8,000 passengers, helping to reduce pressure on the roads and improve access to public transport.
Mr Awudu also acknowledged improvement in travel time under the contra-flow.
He noted that commuters travelling from Adenta to the Central Business District (CBD), who previously spent about two hours on the journey, could now complete it in an average of 28 minutes during the morning peak period.
In the evening, the journey from the CBD to Adenta took approximately 30 minutes, compared with the usual two-and-a-half hours.
He said travel time from Amasaman to Accra had also dropped from more than three hours to about 35 minutes in the morning and an average of 40 minutes in the evening.
On the Kasoa corridor, commuters could complete their journeys in approximately 50 minutes, representing a substantial reduction in travel time.
The MD said the improvements had benefited workers, traders and students, while encouraging private vehicle owners to use the system to reduce congestion on the roads.
Mr Awudu also noted that public compliance had improved following extensive education and sensitisation campaigns, supported by text messages and media advertisements.
He said escorts of these buses by the Motor Traffic and Transport Department (MTTD) of the Police Service had improved safety and alerted motorists approaching the contra-flow lanes.
GAPTE, he said, was assessing the initial results before extending the system to other established corridors.
He said the expansion would depend on safety considerations and the availability of additional buses, with repairs ongoing and discussions underway with the sector minister to strengthen the fleet.
He also dismissed calls about the profitability of the initiative, explaining that the system was more of a social intervention than a profit-oriented one.
“Our profit is translated into easing congestion in Greater Accra and enhancing mobility,” he said.
Mr Awudu urged commercial transport operators, private motorists and other stakeholders to support the initiative, stressing that its primary objective was to reduce congestion rather than displace trotro operators.
He assured that GAPTE would continue to collaborate with relevant transport and road safety authorities to improve the service and make public transport more reliable.