The Politics of Public Transportation in Ghana: The Case of Metro Mass Transit Limited

Abstract

Efficient public transportation system is indispensable to economic development of countries. This study examined the involvement of the state in Ghana‟s public transport delivery. It, particularly, focuses on the creation of Metro Mass Transit (MMT) Limited as a state-backed transit organisation, in spite of the Ghanaian Government‟s chequered history in the transit industry. The study shows how the Government was, inter alia, politically motivated to set up MMT Limited as a dominant public transit company in Ghana to enjoy state patronage. The study also underscores political interference in the operations of MMT Limited yet it has made significant strides in alleviating transportation problems encountered by both urban and rural dwellers. The study concludes that active state participation in public transit provision ensures efficient transport systems that are socially accessible, environmentally friendly and economically sustainable.