Probe reveals no revenue from 60 Aayalolo buses transferred to Kumasi since 2018
A preliminary investigation into the operations of 60 Aayalolo BRT buses transferred to Kumasi since 2018 has revealed no recorded revenue remitted to the overseeing authority, raising concerns over accountability and management.
The probe also found that the buses were operated without a clear financial or operational framework, resulting in poor oversight and the grounding of 44 vehicles from the fleet.
In response, the Managing Director of the Greater Accra Passenger Transport Executive (GAPTE), Awudu Dawuda, has commissioned an independent audit to determine how the buses were transferred to Kumasi, how they were used, and why no revenue has been accounted for over the period.
The audit, expected to be completed within one month, follows revelations that since the relocation in 2018, no income from the buses had been paid into GAPTE accounts.
Mr Dawuda explained that when he assumed office six months ago, it emerged that out of 245 buses procured for the Greater Accra Bus Rapid Transit system, 60 had been moved to Kumasi and 10 others to Takoradi without proper documentation or legal clarity.
He noted that early findings suggest the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly was overseeing the buses, while GAPTE engineers were sent to repair them there, with costs reportedly covered locally. The audit will also investigate how revenue was handled and the circumstances surrounding incidents such as the burning of six buses.
With support from the Ahmed Ibrahim, GAPTE has since taken control of 54 buses in Kumasi, while processes are underway to recover the remaining units from the Western Region. Of those retrieved, only 16 were initially operational, though the rest are being repaired and gradually returned to service.
Mr Dawuda described the situation as part of a broader system failure within GAPTE, noting that out of 245 buses originally supplied, only about 80 were functional due to poor maintenance and mismanagement.
He also highlighted issues such as encroachment on key terminals in areas including Kasoa, Adenta, Kinbu, and Achimota, as well as significant fuel-related debts accumulated since 2018.
According to him, ongoing reforms have already restored and expanded operations, increasing functional buses to about 140 and extending service hours into the night.
GAPTE has also reclaimed occupied terminals, refurbished its Achimota workshop, and begun regular maintenance and repairs at the facility.
As part of wider reforms, the agency is working with stakeholders, including the Accra Mayor and international partners, to restore dedicated lanes for the BRT system, with plans underway for a €1 million feasibility study supported by the Spanish government.
Enforcement measures are also being prepared in collaboration with the Motor Traffic and Transport Department of the Ghana Police Service to ensure compliance once the dedicated lanes are reactivated.
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