CREW Project Research Findings of Diagnostic Country Report (DCR), Ghana Bus Transport Sector

INTRODUCTION Study objective: To draw policy makers’ attention towards competition by establish enormity of adverse policy reform impact on producer and Consumer welfare; and demonstrating possible welfare gain from suggested policy reforms in two sectors in Ghana, ie maize and Transport. Policy Reforms Studied in the Transport Sector in Ghana i. Policy Reform on Subsidised public transport - Metro Mass Transit (MMT) ii. Policy Reform on Promotion of Private Sector Investment in Transport sector iii. Policy Reform on Routing (Route Rationalisation iv. Bus Safety Regulation

INTRODUCTION OF MASS TRANSPORTATION IN URBAN AREAS (MMT)  Policy Goal: Provide mass transit for 80% passengers to conserve road space with affordable prices to the poor.  Market Benefit: Instigate competitive fares with subsidy through competition with private operators to generate extended demand.  Status: Fleet operation capacity range between 81.3 and 54.4 percent at an average of 63.9 percent per annum. Description Average fleet held ,049 % Change of operational fleet capacity Passenger carried (M)553038

INTRODUCTION OF MASS TRANSPORTATION IN URBAN AREAS (MMT)  Impacts: o There is about 90% passenger preference for its use o Fares are 40% Cheaper. o It offers a wider scope of service in terms of route variation o Despite the growth in fleet size, the operational size of the fleet has been under capacity.  Challenges : The operation is not able to break even; It has poor vehicle maintenance regimes due to price regulation. Other challenges include fare leakages.  Competition Concern: Operations of the MMT does not offer any barriers to its private competitors since the threshold of market controlled by its operation is low at about 5 percent  Recommendations:

POLICY REFORM ON PROMOTION OF PRIVATE SECTOR INVESTMENT IN TRANSPORT SECTOR  Policy Goal: Encourage private investment for bus re- capitalization to replace old bus fleet with new buses  Market Benefit: Ensure high quality and safe services bus transport services.  Interventions: o Provision of Leasing Facilities between Government and leasing companies with the unions standing as sureties o Provision of Access to Bank Loans o Establishment of PPP Arrangements:  Impacts: 94% and 100% of intra-city bus and intercity bus operators respectively still use their own resources..  Only 6 percent used loan facilities. Out of this 20% benefited from government arranged private partnership schemes

POLICY REFORM ON PROMOTION OF PRIVATE SECTOR INVESTMENT IN TRANSPORT SECTOR  89 % of the private operators indicated that it is difficult to generate own resources towards the procurement of buses  Loan schemes have stopped due to high default rate attributed to higher interest rates.  Challenges:  High payment default rate which has caused some leasing companies to stop the offer.  High bank rates  The lack of such regulatory oversight makes such arrangements unviable, in spite of its seemingly operational advantages.

POLICY REFORM ON ROUTING (ROUTE RATIONALISATION  Policy Goal: To introduce efficiency in the industry to improve performance standards and service quality.  Market Benefit : Instigate intense competition amongst rival companies to strive to increase market by offering attractive services to customers through tender.  Status: Route registration and issuance of permits by MMDA’s  Impact: Route Registration for bus operation could not take off due to the failure of the BRT project caused by rejection of agency control and oversight management by an independent entity.  Challenges: Route registration requirement is not enforced  Competition Concern: 85-90% 0f Bus route allocation is still controlled by unions with the exception of a few free flowing drivers who refuse to join unions.

INTRODUCTION OF NEW REGULATIONS AND STANDARDS ON ROAD SAFETY IN THE SECTORS  Policy Goal: To undertake nationwide road safety planning education, advocacy and resource mobilization for interventions.  Market Benefit: Reduce road traffic deaths in the country from an annual average of 1,600 to less than 1,000 and to achieve a single digit fatality rate by the year  Status: Introduction of Motor Vehicle Act; Road Traffic Act 683 of 2004, and Road Traffic Act 761 of 2008 etc on regulation of vehicles licensing, police traffic control, overcrowding; use of seatbelts

INTRODUCTION OF NEW REGULATIONS AND STANDARDS ON ROAD SAFETY IN THE SECTORS  Impacts o 100 percent of bus operators and 36% of passengers said there has been changes in RTC due to Government. o 36% of the passengers indicated positive changes in bus transport safety while 28% indicated negative changes o There are new traffic safety standards including ensuring regular checks on tyre condition, adherence to general vehicle standards, driver training in defensive driving, control of fatigue driving, alcohol checks, speed control etc.  Challenges: There is limited capacity for safety enforcement  Competition Concern: The reform initiative has not created the level of competitive efficiency of bus service safety as required

RECOMMENDATIONS MMT service has potential to help the poor but it needs to improve in terms of efficiency and also expansion and strategically expanding to poorly serviced ( not serviced) by the private sector operators to create a ‘niche’ market. Incentives/schemes such as (low-interest rate loans) should be introduced to promote potential private sector bus financing Establishment of the Road Transport Authority and implementation to oversee transport regulation and strict enforcement of transport regulations and quality standards in Ghana