The Deputy Managing Director of Metro Mass Transit(MMT), Mr. Haruna Apaw-Wiredu, has raised concerns about the company’s sharply reduced operational fleet, questioning whether the current number of buses is sufficient to meet government expectations for effective mass public transport delivery.

Speaking in an interview on Class 91.3 FM's  Morning Show, Mr. Apaw-Wiredu revealed that Metro Mass Transit currently operates only 115 active route buses nationwide each month, a figure he described as grossly inadequate.

“Is 115 buses enough to do what the government expects us to do?” he asked.

Providing historical context, he explained that Metro Mass Transit initially operated about 500 buses in 2005, after the fleet was fully paid for under the administration of former President John Agyekum Kufuor.

However, by 2009, during the Mills–Mahama administration, 2,420 buses were scrapped.

More recently, an additional 700 buses were taken out of service in 2024, further weakening the company’s capacity.

The situation is particularly challenging in the Greater Accra Region, Ghana’s most populous area, according to recent census data.

Metro Mass Transit currently operates 10 Electric Vehicle (EV) buses in the region, though some have already broken down. The EV buses ply routes such as Adenta–Madina–Opeibea–Circle, Adenta–Accra–Kaneshie, and Kaneshie–Tema.

Mr. Apaw-Wiredu admitted that 10 buses are clearly insufficient to meet commuter demand in the capital, where long queues are a daily occurrence at major bus stops.

To address the immediate challenges, Metro Mass Transit has begun repairing and redeploying idle buses.

According to him, about 10 buses have been returned to service this week, with another 10 expected to be operational by next week after undergoing mechanical repairs.

The company is also reviewing fleet distribution nationwide and may temporarily redeploy buses from regions with lower demand to Accra.

In a major boost to the company, President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has approved the acquisition of 300 new Isuzu buses from Egypt.

The 29-seater buses will be delivered in three phases:

First 100 buses by the first week of March, to be inaugurated by the President

Second batch expected by June

Final 100 buses by August, completing the supply

Despite public expectations, Metro Mass Transit clarified that not all 300 buses will be deployed in Greater Accra.

About 50 buses are expected to serve intra-city routes such as Accra–Tema, Accra–Lapaz, Accra–Adenta, and Accra–Kasoa, while the remainder will be distributed across other regions.

Metro Mass Transit says it will assess the impact of its short-term interventions over the next two weeks before implementing more permanent solutions.

The company is also engaging private investors to introduce additional Toyota Hiace and coastal buses, including 15- and 29-seater vehicles, to strengthen its fleet.

“Our focus is to ensure a lasting solution, not just a temporary fix,” Mr. Apaw-Wiredu concluded.