50 Aayalolo buses deployed on Accra roads

The Quality Bus System (QBS), commonly referred to as Aayalolo, has deployed 50 buses on the streets of Accra as the bus service returns to the road since October 2018.

The QBS is also increasing its routes and operation as part of a restructured system which intends to deploy up to 180 buses after financial difficulties forced its temporary shut-down.

The Greater Accra Passenger Transport Executive (GAPTE), which manages the bus operating service, says it will deploy buses to various routes by the end of the year to fully assume its role of providing effective, timely and more convenient means of public transport to the public.

As part of a rebranding campaign, the Chief Executive of the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) and Board Chairman of GAPTE, Mr Mohammed Nii Adjei Sowah, joined passengers on the Adentan-Accra route yesterday to advertise the service to win back customers and to know at first hand the challenges both passengers and the operators faced, particularly on the new route.

“Presently, we have 15 buses running from Kasoa to Accra, 25 buses from Amasaman to Accra and 10 buses on Adentan to Accra,” Mr Sowah said, indicating that they would start operating Dawhenya-Accra and Tema-Accra routes within the next two weeks.

Proposal

Mr Sowah said the QBS had presented a proposal to the Transport and Local Government ministries to get some lanes on the routes dedicated to the Aayalolo buses.

One of the proposals is that one lane on every three-lane road must be dedicated to the Aayalolo buses.

“Another proposal is that our buses will run against the traffic, so we can move freely and get to our destinations faster,” he added.

Adentan-Accra

Operations on the Adentan-Accra route started on September 2.

Along with the chief executives of the Adentan Municipal Assembly, Mr Alexander Nii Noi Adumuah, and the La Nkwantanang-Madina Municipal Assembly, Mrs Jennifer Dede Adjabeng, the travelling contingent went through the normal process for regular passengers on their arrival at the Aayalolo bus terminal on the Ritz Junction-Ashaley Botwe road.

There were about 40 other passengers on board.

The Aayalolo bus stopped at designated stops: Madina Zongo Junction, Legon 1, Okponglo, 37 Military Hospital, Novotel, and terminated at Tudu, opposite the new office complex of the AMA.

Mr Sowah said the focus would be to improve the services of the QBS by having fewer stops so passengers could get to their destinations faster and to charge lower fares than the privately-owned commercial buses.

Passengers

Passengers onboard told the Daily Graphic that with the Aayalolo bus service now on that route, it would be their preferred means of transport as it was comfortable, faster and cheaper.