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Transportation

First Batch of 300 Procured Buses Aimed at Reducing Road Transport Challenges Arrives In Ghana

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Minister of State in charge of Government Communication, Felix Kwakye Ofosu has announced the arrival of 100 29-seater buses in the country aimed at reducing recent road transport challenges. In a post made on X on April 5,2026, Minister of State in charge of Government Communication explained that the move forms part of broader efforts by government aimed at improving the transport sector. He added that this form part of 300 procured announced by government with another batch of 100 set to arrive in August and the last batch arriving in November. This comes in response to the recent public transport issues in Ghana, particularly acute shortages, severe overcrowding, and high fares, leaving commuters stranded, especially in urban areas.

Transportation

Free Visa Doesn’t Mean Free Entry— Ablakwa Clarifies Ghana’s African Visa Policy

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Ghana’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Samuel Okudjeto Ablakwa, has moved to clarify widespread misconceptions surrounding the government’s plan to introduce a free visa regime for African nationals, stressing that the waiver of visa fees does not translate into automatic entry into the country. In a post on X on Friday, April 3, 2026, the Minister explained that while Africans will not be required to pay visa fees when seeking to visit Ghana, they will still be required to complete a formal visa application process ,the same process applicable to all other nationalities with the only distinction being that their applications will be processed at no cost. Ablakwa further disclosed that the Free Visa for Africans initiative forms part of a broader e-Visa system which the government intends to roll out next month. Under this arrangement, all visa applicants including African nationals will be required to apply through the designated e-Visa platform, in line with an earlier announcement by President John Mahama. The Minister was emphatic that individuals with criminal records or otherwise unsatisfactory backgrounds will be denied entry into Ghana. He revealed that the new e-Visa system will be integrated with Ghana’s newly established Advance Passenger Information and Passenger Name Record (API-PNR) system, as well as international crime databases. This linkage, he noted, will significantly enhance the capacity of consular officers to conduct thorough background checks and provide the necessary vetting to safeguard national security. Ablakwa stressed that the Ministries of Foreign Affairs, Interior, and Transport have made substantial investments to ensure that a robust and technologically advanced architecture underpins the new system. Addressing questions about the previous administration’s similar announcement, the Minister confirmed that former President Nana Akufo-Addo had indeed announced a Free Visa for Africans policy in 2024, but that it never took off because the requisite mechanisms and security safeguards had not been established at the time. He indicated that the current Mahama-led administration is committed to putting in place the appropriate security and technological frameworks before implementation.

Transportation

Ghana Shuts VIP Lounge at Accra Airport for One-Week Renovation

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The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ghana has announced the temporary closure of the of the VIP Lounge at the Accra International Airport. In a statement released on Friday,April 3,2026 the Ministry of Foreign Affairs explained that this is to allow for a scheduled renovation exercise aimed at enhancing the safety, comfort and overall functionality of the facility. The Ministry added that the Lounge will hence be closed from Friday, 3rd April 2026 and the facility is expected to be reopened for use on Friday, 10th April 2026. The Foreign Affairs Ministry added that the planned renovation forms part of government’s efforts to upgrade key national infrastructure and improve service delivery to high-level dignitaries and official guests. The Ministry then apologized to the general public for any inconvenience this may cause and reiterated its commitment to delivering efficient and high-quality public service.

Transportation

Ghana to Introduce Free Visa Regime for All Africans by May 2026

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President John Dramani Mahama has announced the government’s plan to introduce a free visa regime for all Africans wishing to visit Ghana, effective May 25, 2026. He made this declaration during the inaugural state visit of Emmerson Mnangagwa to Ghana. According to the government, the new policy will form part of a broader e-visa system to be launched by the Mahama administration next month. It will waive visa application fees for travelers holding passports from member states of the African Union. President Mahama described the initiative as a deliberate effort to strengthen Ghana’s position as a cradle of Pan-Africanism, while also generating tangible economic benefits for the country. He further assured that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs would continue its intentional and sustained efforts to secure more visa waiver agreements for holders of Ghanaian passports.

Transportation

Roads Minister Sets Record Straight on Big Push, Suame Interchange and Unpaid Contractor Debt

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The Minister for Roads and Highways, Kwame Governs Agbodza, has clarified that the number of projects under the government’s original Big Push Programme stands at 54, urging the public to ignore misleading claims that tag every road project as part of the programme. Speaking on JoyNews PM Express on Tuesday, March 25, 2026, the Minister explained that Big Push programme is simply a tool for prioritization by government , to identify projects it wants to complete first, highlighting that other road projects outside the official list are equally important and will also be delivered in due course. “So the 54 are actually what we call the Big Push projects, plus the 23, which were all projects innovated in the. The discussion about Big Push is that people are now beginning to see every road project that is ongoing as Big Push, and that is what the conversation has been. So sometimes I hear some figures and I say, where do you get it from?” he clarified “That is not what we meant. We are just saying that these ones are priority one of what we want to complete quickly and then the rest follow. So that is what it is.” he added Addressing the controversy surrounding the Suame Interchange project in Kumasi, the Roads and Highways Minister dismissed claims by the Minority over the government’s decision to downgrade the design from a four-tier structure to a two or three-tier facility, describing their narrative as more political than engineering-based. He added that whatever amount is saved from dropping the fourth tier will be redirected towards fixing roads around the interchange, many of which are currently in a poor state. “ It has nothing to do with engineering. It’s pure politics.Whatever savings are made out of not building the fourth tier will be applied to let’s start building the road from the interchange towards Mampong, which is a road in a very terrible condition currently.” he stated The Minister also revealed that work on the interchange had stalled due to an amount in excess of $23 million owed to the contractor for work already done but left unpaid. “But it stopped because we were owing the contractor in excess of $23 million of work done and not paid for.” he added The Minister also revealed that an amount of over 40 billion has been set aside for the Big Push Programme this year, explaining that the allocation from last year was not fully utilised and has therefore carried over, adding up to the 30 billion allocated by the Finance Ministry this year.

Transportation

DVLA, Police To Clampdown On 2025 DV Plate And Expired DP Sticker Users From March 24

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The Drivers and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA) in collaboration with the Motor Traffic and Transport Department (MTTD) of the Ghana Police Service, has announced a clampdown on users of 2025 DV plates and expired DP stickers effective Tuesday, March 24, 2026. In a statement released , the Authority explained that the clampdown follows the release of 2026 DV plates in February 2026, which automatically rendered the continuous use of 2025 DV plates and expired DP stickers illegal. The DVLA highlighted that although challenges in preparing for the rollout of new vehicle license plates last year necessitated the extended use of 2025 DV plates and DP stickers, the issues have since been resolved, with 2026 DV plates now being issued to motor traders, fleet owners and licensed trade plate dealers who had applied, rendering the continuous use of 2025 DV plates illegal.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​ The Authority called on all vehicle owners currently using 2025 DV plates or expired DP stickers to comply with Road Traffic laws whiles warning of legal consequences for defaulters.

Transportation

GPRTU Rules Out Immediate Transport Fare Increase Despite Fuel Price Hike

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The Public Relations Officer of the Ghana Private Road Transport Union (GPRTU), Abass Imoro, has stated that the Union has decided not to increase transport fares, despite the recent rise in fuel costs. Speaking on Public Sphere on Radio Univers, Mr. Imoro explained that the union considers several factors beyond fuel prices when determining transport fares, stressing that fuel costs alone do not dictate fare adjustments. “And we finally agreed that not for now. For now, the answer is no. We want to assure the general public that in transport operations, fare increments are not based solely on fuel price increases. There are other factors and costs that can also trigger adjustments. But for now, we have not come up with any fare increment,” he said. Mr. Imoro further noted that decisions to adjust transport fares are based on a comprehensive assessment of operational costs. “We look at documentation such as insurance premiums, DVLA charges, permits at assemblies, and taxes. We also consider spare parts, lubricants, and fuel prices,comparing where they were and where they are today. All these factors influence our decisions,” he explained. He also called on the government to review, revise, and scrap certain levies and taxes to ensure long-term stability in transport fares. “There are some levies and taxes that the government should look at. They can reduce or scrap some of them to ensure stability and keep the transport sector on a clean note,” he added.

Transportation

Ghana’s EV Revolution: Home Charging, Big Savings, and a Cleaner Future

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The General Manager for Automobile Sales at EV-Afriq, Delali Fiah Greenstock, is calling on government to reduce the tax burden on electric vehicles to help boost the industry in Ghana. Speaking in an interview with Business Outlook Africa on the cost and implications of electric vehicles, Greenstock explained that dealers currently pay as much as 50 percent in duty and clearing charges when importing EVs into the country. According to her, these high charges significantly increase the cost of electric vehicles, making them less affordable for many potential buyers. She noted that government intervention to reduce these taxes would help make EVs more accessible and encourage greater adoption of electric vehicles in Ghana. “One major area where we need government input is the taxes. So far, the duty and clearing charges on electric vehicles are huge.As compared to the..EVs are still categorised as luxury vehicles. So we’re paying up to 50% and above on duty and clearing charges.And this is an area that we feel that if government intervenes, then a lot more people would be able to adopt EVs. “ Greenstock, then praised Ghanaian banks for the introduction of green financing schemes for the purchase of electric vehicles urging banks to further reduce interest rates to make electric vehicles more affordable and accessible. “ Banks, for now, you would be amazed to know that most of the banks are coming up with green financing. So yes, that’s a step in the right direction.They’re offering very low interest rates for clients that want to purchase EVs. Obviously, because they also have sustainability goals. You know, so that is the contribution they’re making to the EV segment, which is very laudable.We’re hoping that they’re able to drop the rates much further down so that many, many more people will be able to adopt the EVs.” She also encouraged Ghanaians to make the switch to electric vehicles, explaining that the EVs are not only affordable but also saves users about 70 percent compared the cost (ie. fuel and maintenance) of using a traditional internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicle. “To own an electric car currently, you will be spending about GHc 200,000,to a million Ghana Cedis, depending on how luxurious you’re feeling. So, you can see that there is a budget for every pocket. EV’s are able to cater for every budget.”she stated “Without exaggerating the overall cost of ownership of an electric vehicle will save everybody about 70% of the amount they spend if they were using an ICE Vehicle and not just on fuel. It will save you cost on fuel and it will also save you cost on maintenance.” She added She added that Ghanaians will no longer have to worry soo much about public charging stations explaining that the new models of EVs now come with portable home chargers which doesn’t cost so much to charge. “So I don’t, people do not now have to go to the charging stations anymore. Not at all. We’ve moved beyond that.We’ve moved beyond that. You can charge at home. This is how the charging unit looks like.Very small, but very efficient. Okay.Now on your ECG metre, you will spend an average of GHC 120 to GHc 150 to give your car a full charge.Now this amount would actually take you about a week.So for instance, this vehicle is 610 kilometres. Okay. If I charge the full 100 at GHc 150.Yes, you get a range of 610 kilometres.Now that means that this vehicle will take you to Kumasi and back. And even leave you with something.That is how amazing EVs are.”She explained You can watch the full conversation here:

Transportation

Traffic Changes Announced on N1 as Ghana Highway Authority Begins Bridge Expansion at Tetteh Quarshie Interchange

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The Ghana Highway Authority, on behalf of the Ministry of Roads and Highways, has announced a temporary traffic management arrangement as part of ongoing construction works on the Accra–Tema Motorway Extension Project. The measure will allow contractors to carry out T-beam launching works for the expansion of the Tetteh Quarshie Interchange bridge along the N1. In a post made on X on Monday, March 9, 2026, it revealed that as part of the arrangement, lanes on the N4 northbound carriageway from Accra toward Madina will be temporarily closed. Meanwhile, the southbound carriageway from Madina to Accra, which currently has four lanes, will be converted to carry traffic in both directions. Under the new setup, the southbound side will be divided into two lanes for vehicles traveling from Accra to Madina and two lanes for vehicles traveling from Madina to Accra. The temporary traffic arrangement will take effect from Monday, March 9, 2026, and is expected to remain in place for about four months. According to the Ghana Highway Authority, the lane reduction is necessary to create a safe working environment for construction personnel and to ensure the safety of road users. Motorists are therefore advised to exercise caution, follow traffic signs, and cooperate with traffic management officials throughout the construction period.

Trade, Transportation

DVLA Reviews Overseas Service Plan Following Public Feedback

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The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA) has announced a review of its plan to extend selected services to Ghanaians living abroad, following strong reactions from the public. The statement comes hours after the Authority’s earlier announcement to provide certain services to citizens overseas, a move that sparked debate on social media and in traditional news outlets. Many Ghanaians questioned how the expansion would work and whether it could affect accessibility for residents within the country. In response to the public outcry, the DVLA stated that it is reviewing its earlier decision. “We appreciate the feedback and the concerns expressed by members of the public. In view of these sentiments, Management is reviewing the proposed approach and exploring alternative options to ensure that our services remain accessible to all Ghanaians, including those residing outside the country,” the statement said. Management further emphasized the Authority’s commitment to the collective interest of Ghanaians, adding that it is working diligently to enhance service delivery.