Challenges in the institutional and governance structure

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Institutional Foundation: Leadership, Institutional Fragmentation, and Limited Human and Financial Capacity

Key takeaways

• Urban mobility in Ghana is deterred by the fragmentation between national and local governments and the lack of formal coordination mechanisms. • Metropolitan, municipal, and district assemblies (MMDAs) have made significant progress in adopting bylaws on urban passenger transport, specifically in Greater Accra and Kumasi since 2010, including the regulation of tro-tros (minibuses) in 2011. • The capacity of urban mobility institutions is limited by the shortage of trained and specialized staff in urban mobility. • Capital investments in urban mobility have been limited and mainly focused on road improvements.

Little investment has been allocated to improving the operational environment of public transport and pedestrian facilities and to formalizing informal transit. • The potential to mobilize private sector financing in urban transport has not been fully operationalized in Ghanaian cities.

CHALLENGES IN THE INSTITUTIONAL AND GOVERNANCE STRUCTURE

Urban mobility in Ghana has been deterred by the fragmentation between national and local governments and the lack of formal coordination mechanisms and ownership of urban mobility reforms. Playing a role in the urban mobility agenda are several ministries—Transport (MoT), Roads and Highways (MRH), and Local Government and Regional Development (MLGRD); central government institutions—National Road Safety Authority (NRSA) and Ghana Police Service; regional councils (Ghana Regional Coordinating Council, GRCC); and multiple actors at the local level—MMDAs, Greater Accra Passenger Transport Executive (GAPTE), departments of transport, and urban roads departments.

However, ambiguity pervades the performance of these roles as does a lack of coordination. Different actors have different incentives and no common vision and strategy to guide decisions in urban mobility. Implementation of the