Accra shipping breakdown connected to fragmented making plans – CUTS – Life Pulse Daily
Editor-in-chiefJanuary 18, 20265 Mins read46
Accra Shipping Breakdown Connected to Fragmented Planning: The Case for a Unified Authority
Introduction
Accra, the vibrant capital of Ghana, is facing a critical juncture in its urban development. The city’s persistent shipping breakdown, characterized by chaotic rush hours and commuter hardship, is not merely a result of insufficient vehicles but stems from deep-rooted structural issues. According to a recent analysis by CUTS International Accra, the fragmentation of administrative planning is the primary culprit behind the city’s transport woes. This pedagogical guide explores the connection between the Accra Metropolitan Assembly’s structural changes and the current logistics crisis, offering insights into how coordinated policy could restore order to the city’s arteries.
Key Points
- Administrative Fragmentation: Accra is governed by over twenty independent assemblies, creating a mismatch between city-wide transport needs and localized decision-making.
- Lack of Coordination: The absence of a central transport authority leads to disjointed planning, where roads, drainage, and transport corridors are managed in isolation.
- Policy Enforcement Failures: Legislative Instrument 2180 (Road Traffic Regulation 2012) remains largely inactive, allowing private operators to cherry-pick profitable routes rather than serving public demand.
- Historical Decline: The collapse of the Omnibus Service Authority (OSA) and the limitations of Metro Mass Transit and Ayalolo highlight a decades-long struggle to maintain reliable intra-city transport.
- The Solution: CUTS advocates for the establishment of an Accra City Transportation Authority (ACTA) to centralize planning, regulate routes, and manage infrastructure investment.
Background
The current state of Accra’s transport system is a legacy of shifting administrative boundaries and policy experiments. Historically, the city operated under a more centralized structure. However, between 1989 and 2017, the governance landscape shifted dramatically, moving from a single assembly to approximately twenty-four distinct municipal and sub-metropolitan assemblies.
The Era of the Omnibus Service Authority
In the 1970s, the Omnibus Service Authority (OSA) provided a semblance of order. It offered predictable urban shipping, ensuring that routes were determined by commuter necessity rather than profit margins. The slow collapse of the OSA left a significant vacuum, exposing the city to the unpredictable nature of private transport operators.
The Shift to Decentralization
Decentralization was intended to bring governance closer to the people. While this political restructuring had its merits, it inadvertently fractured the management of essential services. CUTS International notes that the mistake was not the decentralization itself, but the failure to build a city-level transport authority to coordinate planning in the aftermath. Today, Accra functions as a single economic entity, yet its transport governance is balkanized, with over twenty assemblies operating independently.
Analysis
The fragmentation of governance has created a “dysfunctional transportation system” characterized by weak policy design and poor infrastructure financial management. The core of the problem lies in the disconnect between where people live and where they work, and the administrative jurisdictions that manage the routes connecting these areas.
The “Silos” Effect
Appiah Kusi Adomako, Esq., Director of the West Africa Regional Centre of CUTS International, emphasizes that “urban movement does not respect political boundaries.” When transport decisions are made in silos, the result is a patchwork of services that fails to serve the city as a whole. Roads and drainage systems cut across multiple jurisdictions, making coherent infrastructure planning nearly impossible.
The Failure of Private Sector Self-Regulation
Following the decline of state-run services, the private sector stepped in to fill the gap. However, without strict regulatory oversight, the market has become distorted. Regulation 121 of LI 2180 requires private operators to adhere to defined route-based programs with clear service standards. Yet, this framework is largely inactive.
Transport unions often allocate routes based on influence and lobbying power rather than data-driven commuter demand. Consequently, operators flock to high-profit corridors, leaving many residential areas underserved. This creates a scenario where “transport supply responds to lobbying power instead of commuter demand,” exacerbating congestion in central business districts while neglecting peripheral communities.
Historical Interventions and Their Limitations
The introduction of Metro Mass Transit in 2001 and the Ayalolo bus rapid transit system in 2015 were attempts to re-establish order. However, these initiatives suffered from strategic missteps. Metro Mass shifted focus from intra-city motion to long-haul shuttles, while Ayalolo buses were diverted to other towns or used for private institutional purposes. These failures underscore the difficulty of implementing transport solutions without a central coordinating body to protect the integrity of the system.
Practical Advice
Addressing the Accra shipping breakdown requires a multi-faceted approach that moves beyond simple procurement. While the government’s plan to procure over 350 buses for Metro Mass Transit is a welcome step, CUTS warns that “procurement alone will fail.” Sustainable solutions must be rooted in institutional reform.
Establish the Accra City Transportation Authority (ACTA)
The primary recommendation is the creation of a unified authority with legal powers to regulate, technology, and coordinate transportation. This body would act as the central nervous system for transport planning, ensuring that all municipal assemblies align their strategies with the city’s overall mobility goals.
Implement Strict Route-Based Licensing
Authorities must enforce LI 2180 rigorously. Licensing should not be generic; it must be route-specific, based on census data and mobility patterns. This ensures that fleet numbers match actual demand, preventing both overcrowding and under-servicing of routes.
Invest in Dedicated Infrastructure
Reliable public transport requires more than just vehicles; it needs infrastructure. The government must commit to a sustained public investment in:
- Dedicated Lanes: To ensure buses are not stuck in the same traffic they are meant to alleviate.
- Modern Terminals: To facilitate seamless transfers and improve passenger safety.
- Smart Technology: To monitor fleet movements and optimize scheduling.
Retooling Assemblies
While a central authority is needed, local assemblies must be retooled to support enforcement. This involves training personnel and equipping them with the data necessary to monitor compliance with transport regulations within their jurisdictions.
FAQ
What is causing the shipping breakdown in Accra?
The shipping breakdown is primarily caused by fragmented administrative planning. With over twenty assemblies managing transport independently, there is no unified strategy. This leads to poor route allocation, inadequate infrastructure, and a lack of coordination between different transport modes.
How does administrative fragmentation affect transport?
When governance is fragmented, transport planning becomes disjointed. Roads and transport corridors cross multiple jurisdictions, making it difficult to implement city-wide policies. This results in a system where transport operators chase profits on popular routes while neglecting underserved areas.
What is the role of Legislative Instrument 2180?
LI 2180 is the Road Traffic Regulation 2012. It mandates that private transport operators work under defined route-based programs with specific service standards. However, it is currently under-enforced, allowing operators to operate without adhering to a planned network.
Why did previous transport interventions like Ayalolo fail?
Interventions like Ayalolo suffered from a lack of sustained policy support and coordination. Buses were diverted to other towns or repurposed for private institutional use, deviating from their intended intra-city function. Without a central authority to protect the system’s integrity, these initiatives struggled to survive.
Is buying more buses the solution?
No. While increasing the fleet is necessary, it is not sufficient. CUTS International warns that without policy reform, coordination, and strong institutions, additional buses will not solve the underlying structural issues and could eventually end up as scrap.
What is the proposed solution by CUTS?
CUTS proposes the establishment of an Accra City Transportation Authority (ACTA). This authority would have the legal power to coordinate planning across all assemblies, regulate routes, and manage infrastructure investment to ensure a cohesive transport system.
Conclusion
The shipping breakdown in Accra is a symptom of a deeper governance crisis. As highlighted by CUTS International Accra, the city cannot function effectively when its transport system is governed by fragmented, competing interests. The solution lies in recognizing transportation as the lifeline of the city and treating it with the strategic seriousness it deserves. By establishing a unified Accra City Transportation Authority, enforcing data-driven route licensing, and investing in dedicated infrastructure, Accra can move from chaos to coordination. The goal is not just to buy more buses, but to build a system that respects the reality of how people live and commute.
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