Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) System in Accra, Ghana

ongoing with challenges

The Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system in Accra was initially launched in 2005 as a pilot project on the Kinbu–Adenta corridor with 12 buses operating on a dedicated lane. The project faced setbacks including weak enforcement, insufficient infrastructure, and opposition from informal transport operators, leading to its suspension in 2007. Subsequent efforts included the Ghana Urban Transport Project (GUTP) and a national BRT policy drafted in 2007. Only 3.5 km of dedicated lanes were constructed, limiting the system's effectiveness. In 2016, a downgraded system called Quality Bus Service (QBS) or 'Aayalolo' was introduced but collapsed in 2018 due to low patronage and financial issues. Operations resumed in 2019 but challenges persist. The project has been hampered by institutional fragmentation, lack of integrated planning, stakeholder resistance, lack of dedicated lanes, and financial constraints.