A preliminary probe by the Greater Accra Passenger Transport Executive has found no record of revenue from 60 Aayalolo buses moved to Kumasi in 2018.
Managing Director Awudu Dawuda said the findings point to weak accountability and poor planning. He has ordered an independent audit to determine how the buses were transferred, how they were managed, and what happened to the revenue. The audit is expected within a month.
Missing revenue and grounded buses
Mr Dawuda said not a single pesewa from the Kumasi operations has reached GAPTE since 2018. Initial checks also showed that 44 of the buses are grounded due to poor maintenance.
He explained that the buses were handed to the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly to manage, while GAPTE engineers handled repairs at the council’s cost.
The audit will also examine how six of the buses got burnt and who managed the operations over the years.
Fleet recovery underway
GAPTE has now taken over 54 of the buses in Kumasi and is moving to reclaim 10 others in Takoradi. Mr Dawuda said only 16 of the 54 buses were working when they took control.
He added that the 16 buses have resumed operations and are already generating revenue. Efforts are ongoing to repair the rest.
Wider system challenges
Mr Dawuda said the situation reflects broader problems within the system. Out of 245 buses procured in 2016, only 80 were operational when he took office.
He also cited encroachment on key terminals, including Kasoa, Adenta, Kinbu, and Achimota, as well as debts linked to fuel purchases.
Reform measures
He said GAPTE has begun recovering encroached lands and repairing buses. The number of working buses has increased to 140, with extended operating hours now running up to 11 p.m.
He added that plans are underway to restore dedicated bus lanes. GAPTE is working with government partners and has secured support from Spain for a feasibility study.
Authorities also plan to enforce the use of bus lanes with support from the Motor Traffic and Transport Department.
