Severe Intercity Bus Shortage Strands Hundreds in Accra Amid Post-Holiday Rush
Accra’s major transport terminals were overwhelmed recently as hundreds of passengers found themselves stranded due to an acute shortage of intercity buses during the critical post-Christmas and New Year travel period. The crisis unfolded just as schools and workplaces resumed, intensifying frustration among commuters and raising concerns about missed reporting deadlines across Ghana.
At the Kaneshie-Takoradi VIP Station, long queues formed from early morning as travellers sought buses to Takoradi, Cape Coast, and other destinations. Despite arriving as early as 4:00 a.m., many passengers—including a significant number of students returning to campuses—were still waiting hours later with no clear indication of when transport would become available. Some feared missing their reporting deadlines, which could lead to academic penalties.
Similar scenes were reported at Accra’s Circle VIP and STC stations, where the heat and crowding added to the discomfort of stranded passengers. Many waited under the scorching sun, clutching luggage or sitting on their bags, anxiously watching for any sign of bus arrivals. Station managers admitted uncertainty about when normal services would resume, attributing the shortage to several key factors.
One unnamed station manager explained that many buses had been temporarily hired out to organisations and event planners for festive season excursions, severely reducing the fleet available for regular intercity routes. Additionally, poor road conditions in parts of the country delayed the return of buses to Accra, complicating efforts to meet passenger demand.
As a short-term solution, Kaneshie station managers advised passengers to return home and attempt travel after midnight, hoping that more buses would be back in operation by that time. Meanwhile, VIP Jeoun Transport Company Limited’s General Manager, Adakabre Frimpong Manso, highlighted the surge in passenger numbers as a result of the reopening of educational institutions like KNUST and various Second Cycle Schools, alongside general post-holiday travel.
The situation has sparked widespread dissatisfaction among commuters, many of whom called on transport operators to develop more effective plans for peak travel periods. The expectation is for improved coordination and resource allocation during major festive seasons to prevent such debilitating shortages and ensure reliable service delivery.
For African travel and transport professionals, this episode underscores the challenges of managing demand spikes in urban hubs and the critical need for resilient infrastructure and operational planning. With growing mobility across the continent, especially during holiday seasons, transport providers must anticipate peak loads and invest in fleet capacity, scheduling, and customer communication to uphold service standards and protect traveller confidence.
As Ghana’s economy and education sectors ramp up activity post-festivities, the strain on intercity transport services offers a cautionary tale. It highlights how logistical shortcomings can ripple across communities, affecting livelihoods, education, and businesses. Addressing these issues will require collaboration between transport operators, government agencies, and urban planners to create sustainable solutions that keep people moving efficiently and safely throughout the country.
