The Minister of Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs, Mahama Ayariga, has instructed the Greater Accra Passenger Transport Executive (GAPTE) to adhere to advertised times for the contra-flow system. This initiative, which began two days ago, aims to promote a positive attitude to time management and reduce traffic congestion in Accra. Mr. Ayariga stressed that if the "business as usual" mentality is allowed to persist, the purpose of the contra-flow initiative will not be achieved.
The contra-flow system, which operates from 6 a.m. to 9 a.m. in the morning and 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. in the evening, allows Aayalolo buses to travel in the priority direction against the normal flow of general traffic. This arrangement, implemented in collaboration with the Motor Traffic and Transport Department (MTTD) of the Ghana Police Service, GAPTE, and the Department of Urban Roads, initially covers three major commuter corridors: Amasaman–Accra, Adentan–Accra, and Kasoa–Accra.
According to Mr. Ayariga, the introduction of the contra-flow initiative must change the behavior of commuters and drivers. He cited Japan as an example, where trains leave at exactly the scheduled time, and encouraged GAPTE to adopt a similar approach. The Minister emphasized that if a bus is scheduled to leave at 6:15 a.m., it should do so exactly at that time, whether it is full or not.
The Managing Director of GAPTE, Dawuda Awudu, has explained that the contra-flow system aims to address persistent traffic congestion in the Greater Accra Metropolitan Area. He stated that the success of the policy depends partly on the availability of efficient transportation to support economic activities beyond conventional working hours.
The Ministry of Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs started implementing the contra-flow traffic management system last Tuesday. The initiative has been designed to allow Aayalolo Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) services on major corridors into the Central Business District of Accra during peak hours.
Mr. Ayariga made these remarks at a breakfast meeting with development partners and heads of agencies in local governance. He stressed that changing behavior for the better requires a consistent approach, and the contra-flow initiative can serve as a starting point for improving time management and reducing traffic congestion.
The contra-flow system is expected to decongest the city and provide faster movement of Aayalolo buses in Accra. The initiative has been welcomed by commuters, who hope it will reduce travel times and improve their overall experience.
Key points
- The Minister of Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs, Mahama Ayariga, has directed GAPTE to adhere to advertised times for the contra-flow system.
- The contra-flow system operates from 6 a.m. to 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. to 8 p.m., allowing Aayalolo buses to travel in the priority direction against normal traffic flow.
- The initiative aims to address persistent traffic congestion in the Greater Accra Metropolitan Area and promote a positive attitude to time management.
