Duncan Amoah, Executive-Secretary of Chamber of Petroleum Consumers (COPEC), has dismissed claims that private transport operators are sabotaging public transport services, arguing that the state bears significant responsibility for the sector’s challenges.
Speaking on The Big Issues on ChannelOne TV, Amoah highlighted that government interventions, including Metro Mass Transit, STC, Ayalolo, and recent electric bus initiatives, have historically shaped the public transport landscape. “The state has introduced these systems, yet it itself could not sustain Metro Mass,” he said, emphasising that government investment alone has not guaranteed efficiency or service continuity.
Amoah criticised perceptions that private operators are deliberately undermining public services. “Drivers are not sabotaging. If you buy a bus, you want it to work. It’s unfair to suggest they are obstructing the system for profit,” he said. He added that the lack of scientifically determined fares and poor road conditions further compound operational difficulties.
He explained that revenue from fares should ideally cover bus refinancing, spare parts, fuel, insurance, and operational costs. In practice, these calculations are rarely applied, leaving operators vulnerable and the system underperforming.
Amoah concluded that both state and private contributions must be assessed fairly, stressing that collaboration and structured financial planning are critical to sustaining public transport and improving service delivery across Ghana.