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Poor Urban Planning Fueling Shipping Disaster—Prof. Beyuo

Ghana’s escalating urban transport crisis is not an unforeseen accident but the “predictable cost” of decades of poor planning and an overreliance on road transport. According to Prof. Titus Beyuo, the Member of Parliament for Lambussie, the current chaos in major cities like Accra and Kumasi highlights a structural rot that requires immediate policy intervention.

Speaking on Channel One TV, the medical professional and legislator outlined how the lack of a multi-modal transport system is exacerbating congestion, increasing road accidents, and threatening economic stability.

Introduction

Urban mobility in Ghana, particularly in the Greater Accra and Ashanti regions, has reached a critical juncture. Commuters face hours of gridlock, and the efficiency of shipping and logistics is deteriorating. Prof. Titus Beyuo’s recent commentary sheds light on the root causes of this crisis, moving beyond surface-level complaints to diagnose a systemic failure in national transport policy.

This article explores Prof. Beyuo’s analysis of the current transport chaos, the historical context of Ghana’s unimodal transport reliance, and the practical steps required to transition toward a sustainable, multi-modal system. By understanding the relationship between urban planning and shipping efficiency, stakeholders can better grasp the urgency of infrastructure diversification.

Key Points

Background

To understand the gravity of Prof. Beyuo’s warnings, it is essential to look at the historical context of Ghana’s transport infrastructure. Since the mid-20th century, Ghana has prioritized road construction over other forms of transport. While roads are vital for last-mile connectivity, the exclusive focus has led to the near-total neglect of the railway system and inland waterways.

The Decline of State Transport Assets

Historically, Ghana operated state-owned transport services such as the Ghana Road Transport Corporation (GPRTU) and later, Metro Mass Transit. However, maintenance lapses and policy inconsistencies have led to the deterioration of these assets. Currently, hundreds of state-owned buses, including those under the Aayalolo brand, are rotting in depots due to a lack of maintenance and operational planning.

Urbanization and Congestion

Accra and Kumasi have experienced rapid urbanization without a corresponding expansion of transport infrastructure. The “commuter belt” has expanded, forcing millions to travel long distances daily on roads that were never designed for current traffic volumes. This has turned the “shipping” of goods and people into a daily logistical nightmare, particularly in hubs like Madina and Kaneshie.

Analysis

Prof. Beyuo’s critique offers a pedagogical framework for understanding the transport crisis. It moves beyond blaming traffic jams on “bad driving” and instead points to structural engineering and policy failures.

The Concept of “Predictable Cost”

Prof. Beyuo characterizes the current chaos as a “predictable cost.” In economics and policy planning, this means that negative outcomes are inevitable if specific inputs (or lack thereof) are present. By failing to diversify transport modes for decades, Ghana created a system where any disruption—a minor accident, rain, or peak-hour traffic—causes a cascading failure across the entire network.

The Unimodal Transport System

The core of the problem is the “unimodal” system. This refers to a transport network that relies heavily on a single mode—in this case, roads. A unimodal system is brittle; it lacks redundancy. When the road network fails, there is no backup.

Prof. Beyuo, drawing on his experience as a former General Secretary of the Ghana Medical Association (GMA), highlighted that the GMA has long warned about this. As far back as 2018 and early 2021, medical experts and planners held high-level meetings warning that the carnage on Ghana’s roads was a direct result of overburdening a single transport mode.

Impact on Shipping and Logistics

When we speak of “shipping” in this context, it encompasses both the movement of goods (freight) and people (commuting). The congestion in terminals like Kaneshie (a major lorry terminal) creates bottlenecks that delay the supply chain. Goods that take hours to move short distances increase the cost of living and doing business. This inefficiency makes Ghana a less attractive hub for regional trade.

Practical Advice

To address the shipping disaster and urban chaos, Prof. Beyuo advocates for a pivot to a multi-modal transport system. This approach involves using different modes of transport in an integrated manner to optimize efficiency, safety, and speed.

1. Revitalizing Rail and Trams

The rail network is the most efficient way to move heavy loads and large numbers of people over long distances.

• Commuter Rail: High-capacity trains can transport thousands of commuters into city centers without adding to road traffic.
• Urban Trams: In dense urban areas, trams offer a reliable, eco-friendly alternative to buses stuck in traffic.

2. Utilizing Inland Waterways

Ghana is endowed with the Volta Lake and coastal routes, yet these are underutilized for transport.

• Freight Transport: Moving bulk cargo (like cement, timber, or grain) via water is cheaper and reduces road wear and tear.
• Passenger Ferries: Water transport can decongest roads by offering alternative routes for commuters living near water bodies.

3. Dedicated Bus Lanes (Bus Rapid Transit – BRT)

To maximize the use of existing buses (including the rehabilitated state-owned fleets), Ghana must implement dedicated lanes.

• Segregation: Buses must be physically separated from private cars and motorcycles.
• Priority: Traffic signals should prioritize buses to ensure high-frequency service.

4. Policy and Maintenance

Buying new vehicles is not a sustainable solution if existing assets are neglected. A strict maintenance schedule and a policy framework that incentivizes private sector participation in multi-modal logistics are essential.

FAQ

Conclusion

Prof. Titus Beyuo’s analysis serves as a critical wake-up call for Ghana’s policymakers. The current shipping and transport disaster is not a temporary glitch but the result of decades of poor planning. The reliance on a unimodal road system has created a fragile network that cannot support Ghana’s growing population or economic ambitions.

Transitioning to a multi-modal transport system—incorporating rail, waterways, and dedicated bus lanes—is the only sustainable path forward. This requires political will, strategic investment in infrastructure, and a commitment to maintenance over new acquisition. Without these structural changes, Accra and Kumasi will face total gridlock, and the cost of shipping—both for goods and people—will continue to rise.

Sources

• Source: Channel One TV (Interview with Prof. Titus Beyuo, January 17, 2026)
• Context: Ghana Medical Association (GMA) reports on road safety (2018-2021)
• Reference: Urban population data projections for Accra, Ghana.