Commuters and traders across the Volta and Oti Regions have welcomed the commissioning of 100 new buses for the Metro Mass Transit (MMT), describing the move as timely relief after years of transportation challenges.
The buses, commissioned on Friday, May 22, by Professor Jane Nana Opoku-Agyemang, the Vice-President, are expected to improve public transportation services and reduce the burden on passengers who have endured unreliable commuting conditions for some years now.
Passengers who spoke to the Ghana News Agency (GNA) expressed optimism that the deployment of the buses would restore suspended routes, reduce transportation costs, and support trading activities within the two regions.
Mr Kennedy Nyahe, a resident of Ho, said he had eagerly anticipated the arrival of the buses, particularly for routes linking Ho and Mafi-Kumasi, where he commutes daily for work.
“I was happy and patiently waiting for the Volta Region’s share of the buses,” he said.
Mr Nyahe explained that the absence of MMT buses on the route over the past three years had significantly increased his transportation expenses, forcing many commuters to rely on expensive alternative transport services.
He appealed to the management of MMT to allocate at least one of the new buses to the Ho–Mafi-Kumasi route to ease the plight of workers and regular travelers.
Mr Worlanyo Agbotse, a passenger on the Ho–Juapong route, also welcomed the development, saying the introduction of the buses would bring relief to passengers and improve accessibility.
“It will help us passengers,” he stated.
Madam Grace Awonye, a trader travelling from Ho through Anyirawase and Kadjebi to Dodo-Amanfrom market, said she became excited after watching the commissioning ceremony on television.
According to her, the absence of MMT buses to Dodo-Amanfrom over the years had negatively affected trading activities, resulting in losses for market women and other traders who depended on affordable transport to move goods.
She expressed hope that the new buses would soon be deployed to underserved communities to revive commercial activities and improve movement of people and goods.
Some commuters further appealed to authorities to ensure regular maintenance of the buses to sustain efficient operations and avoid a recurrence of prolonged service disruptions.