The Achimota Transport Terminal in Accra has virtually been turned into a “ghost town” following the refusal by many public transport drivers and passengers to patronise the station.
The terminal was inaugurated in December 2009 with the aim of reducing traffic on the Accra-Nsawam road.
That route, particularly the portion between the Apenkwa Interchange and Achimota, is a major one that connects Accra to other cities such as Kumasi and Tamale.
Taskforce
A taskforce made up of the police, members of the Accra Metropolitan Assembly and the transport union in Achimota has been formed to help reverse the trend.
Members are to be deployed to the various illegal bus stops to prevent vehicles from picking passengers from those points.
Expatiating the reasons for the low businness activities at the terminal in an interview with the Daily Graphic, the secretary in charge of drivers’ welfare at the terminal, Victor Owusu, said some drivers and passengers were still patronising the old Achimota station to pick and offload passengers.
According to him appeals to those recalcitrant drivers to stop such activities had fallen on deaf ears for which reason the AMA and the transport union put together the taskforce to compel them to use the new terminal.
Poor patronage
Mr Owusu expressed concern over the poor patronage at the terminal during the festive season and indicated that vehicles were hardly filled with passengers due to the existence of illegal bus stops on the other side of the road.
He further explained that drivers from the northern part of the country had not heeded advice to discharge passengers at the terminal to ensure their safety.
Facilities
Alhaji Mustapha Ankrah, the Welfare Officer at the terminal, urged other transport companies in Accra to use the terminal, which has canteens, toilet facilities, a clinic and a police station to safeguard the security of their passengers.
“This is one of the beautiful terminals in the sub-region but it is being underutilised, which is most unfortunate,” he said.
The Achimota Transport Terminal is currently being managed by Koajay Company Limited.
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