ACCRA_TRANSPORT

In 2001, His Excellency the President directed the re-introduction of public and private mass transport in the metropolitan and municipal areas to ensure safe, affordable, efficient and reliable movement of Ghanaians. Since then, the Government has been actively promoting public and private mass transportation.  In deed, the benefit accruing to the nation from the introduction of a public and private mass transport system is immense.  The use of public and private mass transport systems will therefore make our roads less congested, reduce air pollution and fuel consumption and ultimately, Ghanaians will have a reliable and faster transport system. 

Accra Transport Limited (ATL) was officially incorporated in 2003.  The shareholders include State Insurance Company, National Investment Bank, Ghana Oil Company Limited, Agriculture Development Bank, Prudential Bank and SSNIT.  These together have 55% shareholding.  Our chairman Mr Thomas Benson holds the remaining 45% shares. 

Strategic Role of ATL

ATL has been supporting the Government pro-poor policy by:

• Charging lower fares thus making transport fares affordable to the poor.
• Influencing and stabilising transport fares throughout the country.
• Running on routes generally considered unattractive and unprofitable by other private transport owners, in terms of the state of road and patronage
• Implementing the Free Bus Ride for School Children in uniform up to Junior High School level.

Operational Areas

Since the introduction of the Accra Transport Limited, the following areas have been benefiting from the services:

     Accra-Tema Metropolitan Area
         (kaneshie, Adenta, Tema, Laterbiokorshie)
     Kumasi
     Takoradi
     Tamale
     Koforidua
     Sunyani
     Cape Coast
     Agona Swedru
     Ho
     Wa
     Bolgatanga
     Akim Oda

Other recent achievements of ATL include:
 

	Free ride for school children in uniforms (Primary and JSS) in all ATL buses
	University Campus Service at the University of Ghana - Legon and to the UDS Campus Tamale
	Special school bussing service in Accra, Swedru and Kumasi (on commercial basis)

Also, the opening of the Opera Square Terminal has opened the way for the construction of passenger waiting facilities at Accra- Bolgatanga.

New Routes in 2007

• Aflao- Kumasi
• Aflao- Elubo
• Ashaiman- Aflao
• Tamale- Gambaaga/ Nalerigu
• Bolga- Nalerigu
• Wa- Techiman
• Bolga- Techiman
• Accra- Asamankese
• Bunkrugu- Tamale


Way forward

In general, ATL wants to set up a private transport system, an integrated network of scheduled buses.  A private transport system interlinking residential areas, business districts, Central bus terminals, suburbs and villages in a reliable, efficient, safe and affordable way.

 The focus of ATL is presently on the short and medium distances, i.e. intra-city transport. ATL aims to co-operate closely with the Government to ensure that the pilot Bus Rapid Transit System succeeds.  A Bus Rapid Transit System is the solution for heavily congested areas in the capitals of Ghana and that is why the current Bus Rapid Transit System of ATL will be copied to other relevant areas.  Ghana can be one of the forerunners in Africa that combines bus infrastructure with a frequent bus service very effectively.  Free bus lanes are a dream for every commuter but as well for the various police, ambulance and fire services.

Job Creations

ATL has grown to be one of the major employers in Ghana.  ATL’s current staff strength of around 65 is expected to exceed 100 by the end of 2009 with the arrival of about 10 buses by the end of 2009.

Janitorial services, security, bus washing and cleaning are outsourced to third parties providing employment for additional 30 persons.  

In general productivity of the workforce in Ghana would increase, since ATL can offer fast and reliable transport from home to the workplace.