In 2001, His Excellency the President directed the re-introduction of public mass transport in the metropolitan and municipal areas to ensure safe, affordable, efficient and reliable movement of Ghanaians. Since then, the Government has been actively promoting public mass transportation.  In deed, the benefit accruing to the nation from the introduction of a public mass transport system is immense.  The use of public mass transport systems will therefore make our roads less congested, reduce air pollution and fuel consumption and ultimately, Ghanaians will have a reliable and faster transport system. 

Metro Mass Transit Limited (MMT) was officially incorporated in 2003.  The shareholders include State Insurance Company, National Investment Bank, Ghana Oil Company Limited, Agriculture Development Bank, Prudential Bank and SSNIT.  These together have 55% shareholding.  The Government of Ghana holds the remaining 45% shares. 

 All news, highlights and information about MMT can be found on MMT website at http://www.metromass.com and you can also write to us at mmt@metromass.com.

Strategic Role of MMT

MMT has been supporting the Government pro-poor policy by:

  • Charging lower fares thus making transport fares affordable to the poor.
  • Influencing and stabilising transport fares throughout the country.
  • Running on routes generally considered unattractive and unprofitable by private transport owners, in terms of the state of road and patronage
  • Implementing the Free Bus Ride for School Children in uniform up to Junior High School level.

Operational Areas

Since the introduction of the Metro Mass Transit, the following areas have been benefiting from the services:

     Accra-Tema Metropolitan Area
         (kaneshie, Adenta, Tema, Laterbiokorshie)
     Kumasi
     Takoradi
     Tamale
     Koforidua
     Sunyani
     Cape Coast
     Agona Swedru
     Ho
     Wa
     Bolgatanga
     Akim Oda

Fleet Size

MMT at the moment has a fleet of buses made up of Yaxing, DAF, Neoplan VDL, VDL Jonckhere, VDL Dutch, Iveco and Tata buses. It is expected that the fleet will reach a thousand by the end of the year 2008.

Fleet: Current Fleet January 2008 Expected in 2008 End of 2008
Yaxing 400 0 400
Tata 44 46 90
DAF 176 0 176
VDL Neoplan 100 76 176
VDL Jonckheere 123 90 213
Fiat/Iveco 8 0 8
Total 851 212 1,063

The Fiat-Iveco buses were donated by the Italian Government and helped a great deal during the pilot phase. These buses have played their part and are being phased out.

The Yaxing buses were manufactured in China and supported by the Ghana Government. On the 13th of April, 2006, MMT received 150 Yaxing buses from the Ministry of Roads and Transport (MRT) to augment the fleet of MMT. This brings the total number of Yaxing buses received to date to 400 and it brings the total operational fleet of MMT to over 600.

All DAF & VDL buses have been financed through an ORET Grant agreement between the Dutch Government and Ghana. 35% of the value is a gift of the Dutch Government whilst 65% has been provided as a loan. All DAF Neoplaan & VDL Neoplan buses are manufactured at the Neoplan factory in Kumasi.

The Tata buses were manufactured in India and are facilitated by an agreement between the governments of India and Ghana.The buses were manufactured in India by Tata Motors

Passengers Carried

MMT carried 2,055 passengers in 2002 (Oct.-December), 18,095 passengers in 2003, 15,950,101 passengers in 2004, 40,000,791 passengers in 2005, 52,959,160 passengers in 2006, 42,814,442 passengers in 2007 and as at March 2008 MMT had carried 8,452,507 passengers. In total MMT has served 160,197,151 passengers nationwide since its operation in 2002.

Since the start of the Free Ride for School Children in 2006, MMT has given 10,697,876 school children free ride. In 2006 6,174,227 school children were carried, 4,005,654 in 2007 and as at March 2008 had carried 517,995.  


Other Operational Issues

A pilot Bus Rapid Transit project in Accra, connecting Adenta with the Central Business District and the Kwame Nkrumah Circle, carrying over 20,000 passengers a day commenced in September, 2005. Success-factors are the high frequency of appearance (every 15 minutes a bus) and ticket selling in advance.

Free ride for school children in uniforms (Primary and JSS) in all MMT buses nationwide.University Campus Service at the University of Ghana, Legon, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi and at the UDS Campus, Tamale.Special school bussing service in  Accra, Swedru and Kumasi (on commercial basis)

Other recent achievements of MMT include:
 
Free ride for school children in uniforms (Primary and JSS) in all MMT buses nationwide
University Campus Service at the University of Ghana - Legon and to the UDS Campus Tamale
Special school bussing service in Accra, Swedru and Kumasi (on commercial basis)

Also, the opening of the Opera Square Terminal has opened the way for the construction of passenger waiting facilities at Accra- Bolgatanga.

New Routes in 2007

• Aflao- Kumasi
• Aflao- Elubo
• Ashaiman- Aflao
• Tamale- Gambaaga/ Nalerigu
• Bolga- Nalerigu
• Wa- Techiman
• Bolga- Techiman
• Accra- Asamankese
• Bunkrugu- Tamale
• Bole- Tamale
• Wa- Funsi
• Aflao- Accra
• Accra- Apirede Akwapim
• Kumasi- Cape Coast
• Oda- Accra
• Atebubu- Sunyani
• Cheriponi- Tamale
• Kumasi- Yeji
• Bimbilla- Tamale
• Accra- Akim Bomso
• Saboba- Tamale
• Cape Coast- Accra

Way forward

 In general, MMT wants to set up a public transport system, an integrated network of scheduled buses.  A public transport system interlinking residential areas, business districts, Central bus terminals, suburbs and villages in a reliable, efficient, safe and affordable way.

 The focus of MMT is presently on the short and medium distances, i.e. intra-city transport. MMT aims to co-operate closely with the Government to ensure that the pilot Bus Rapid Transit System succeeds.  A Bus Rapid Transit System is the solution for heavily congested areas in the capitals of Ghana and that is why the current Bus Rapid Transit System of MMT will be copied to other relevant areas.  Ghana can be one of the forerunners in Africa that combines bus infrastructure with a frequent bus service very effectively.  Free bus lanes are a dream for every commuter but as well for the various police, ambulance and fire services.


Job Creations

MMT has grown to be one of the major employers in Ghana.  MMT’s current staff strength of around 2,635 is expected to exceed 3000 by the end of 2008 with the arrival of about 212 buses by the end of 2008.

Janitorial services, security, bus washing and cleaning are outsourced to third parties providing employment for additional 500 persons. 

On account of the construction of the buses in Kumasi, several indirect jobs have been created in the manufacturing sector.  

In general productivity of the workforce in Ghana would increase, since MMT can offer fast and reliable transport from home to the workplace.

Moreover, the operations of MMT would empower the Ghanaian community by making job, shop, school and healthcare better accessible.

Moving the Nation

It is a shared responsibility of MMT and the citizens of Ghana to keep the buses, in a good condition on the road.

MMT therefore, appeals to its passengers not to litter the buses and always insist on their ticket


Together we will Move the Nation!


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