Our bus stops are becoming marketplaces: Who is responsible?
Ghana’s bus stops were designed to move people, not merchandise. Yet traders, stalls and unauthorised structures are increasingly crowding out passengers and commercial vehicles, prompting five transport unions to declare a nationwide shutdown of commercial transport on Wednesday, November 4, 2026.
The unions—including the GPRTU of TUC, Commercial Transport Operators of Ghana, True Drivers Union, Ghana Committed Drivers Association and Concerned Drivers Association of Ghana—say drivers cannot safely pick up or drop off passengers at occupied bus stops. Their action is not simply about hawkers: it is also a protest against what they describe as unfair fines under the new TraffiTech-GH traffic-enforcement system, even as bus stops remain blocked.
Who allowed this?
Responsibility cannot rest with traders alone. The unions have specifically accused the government and the Ghana Police Service of failing to enforce regulations that prohibit trading at bus stops and pedestrian walkways. Metropolitan, municipal and district assemblies also have a duty to plan public spaces, designate lawful trading areas and enforce by-laws consistently. Transport unions and driver associations, meanwhile, must ensure that passenger bays and terminals under their control remain accessible. When these institutions fail to act together, traders occupy more space, commuters lose safe access to vehicles, and drivers are left to navigate the consequences.
Traders need lawful alternatives
Trading provides a livelihood for many Ghanaians, and simply driving people off the streets without viable alternatives would deepen economic hardship. Any enforcement effort must therefore be paired with properly designated, accessible and affordable trading spaces. But the right to earn a living cannot override public safety. Bus stops and pedestrian walkways exist to allow passengers to board and alight safely; when they are occupied, commuters are pushed into traffic and vehicles are forced to stop in unsafe locations.
Commuters pay the price
Passengers are among the biggest losers. Congested terminals make boarding difficult, expose people to traffic hazards and slow down public transport. Drivers who cannot use designated stops may also become targets of automated fines under TraffiTech-GH, even where the underlying problem is the occupation of the stop itself. The unions’ complaint therefore raises a fairness question: authorities should not penalise drivers for conditions created by poor enforcement and inadequate public-space management.
A strike should not be the only answer
The November 4 shutdown deserves attention, but it should not become the only way to force action. Government agencies, the police and local assemblies must respond through sustained enforcement, practical planning and genuine engagement with traders, unions and commuters. One-off crackdowns are not enough. Without designated alternatives and consistent rules, displaced traders often return—and the same congestion and safety risks reappear.
Reclaiming public space
Ghana must reclaim its bus stops as transport infrastructure, not informal marketplaces. That requires clear responsibility: police and local authorities must enforce the rules; assemblies must provide lawful trading spaces; unions must maintain discipline at terminals; and traders must operate within designated areas.
The solution is neither to criminalise people trying to survive nor to allow commercial activity to undermine public safety. It is to enforce Regulation 142 fairly, create viable alternatives, and ensure that every bus stop serves its primary purpose: safe, reliable access to public transport.
Ghana’s bus stops should not have to become marketplaces before those responsible act. The time to restore order is now.
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