The Ghanaian government has set a target to double the daily passenger journeys on the Aayalolo Bus Rapid Transport (BRT) service in Accra to 16,000 by Christmas 2026. Currently, the Aayalolo fleet makes about 8,000 passenger journeys every weekday across the Greater Accra Metropolitan Area. This move is part of efforts to improve the mass transport service, which has been undermined by traffic congestion in the city.
The target follows the successful piloting of a contraflow traffic system for the BRT corridor in September 2026. Under this arrangement, selected vehicles are redirected to run against the normal direction of traffic to clear congestion for designated routes, in this case, the BRT buses. The Minister of Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs, Mahama Ayariga, spearheaded the introduction of the contraflow system.
The contraflow pilot has shown positive results, and Mr. Ayariga plans to deploy more buses into the contraflow corridor to build on the gains. Even before adding more buses, he believes the doubled ridership target can be met by increasing the number of trips each bus makes in a day. Currently, buses make three trips a day, but this could be increased to between four and six trips, depending on passenger demand.
To achieve the increased trips, operators can have buses drop off passengers in Accra and return directly to their loading points to pick up more commuters, rather than waiting idle for a return trip. Mr. Ayariga expressed confidence that operators could hit the new target gradually as the festive season approaches. He noted that if they are currently doing 8,000 trips a day, they can incrementally increase this to 16,000 daily trips by Christmas.
The Aayalolo contraflow service runs on major commuter corridors linking Kasoa, Amasaman, and Adentan to central Accra. These routes are used daily by thousands of workers and traders traveling into the capital. The service aims to provide faster and more efficient trips for commuters, reducing congestion and travel times.
According to Mr. Ayariga, operators can achieve the increased trips by optimizing their routes and schedules. He stated that he is 100% sure that they can do as many as six trips, instead of the current three trips, especially during the morning and evening peak periods. This increase in trips will help meet the growing demand for public transportation in the city.
The government's efforts to improve the Aayalolo BRT service are expected to have a positive impact on commuters in Accra. With more buses and increased trips, commuters can look forward to faster and more efficient travel times. The successful implementation of the contraflow pilot and the planned expansion of the service demonstrate the government's commitment to enhancing public transportation in Ghana.
Key points
- The Ghanaian government aims to double the daily Aayalolo BRT trips to 16,000 by Christmas 2026.
- A successful contraflow pilot has contributed to the government's plans to expand the service.
- Increasing the number of trips per bus is expected to help meet the target before adding more buses to the fleet.
