Contextualizing transport infrastructure and services in Ghanaian peri-urbanism

ABSTRACT

This study interrogates the demand and supply of transport infrastructure and services in peri-urban areas of Sunyani Municipality in Ghana. Structured one-on-one interviews were conducted with 100 households across three peri-urban communities in Sunyani (Abesim-Kyidom, Asuakwaa and Adomako). Findings revealed that a majority of peri-urban households (84%) in the study communities who commute daily to and from the city centre are faced with poor transport infrastructure (e.g. poor conditions of road) and unreliable services (e.g. unregulated public transport). Inadequate investment in transport infrastructure and services by the Ghanaian government, the limited activity locations in peri-urban areas, and the concentration of activity locations at the city centre were identified to be contributing to the poor state of transport infrastructure and services in the case study communities. Policy recommendations to improve the situation are further proffered.

KEYWORDS:

• Peri-urban
• transport demand
• transport supply
• infrastructure
• services

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Notes

1. Trotro is a form of minibus used for short distance travel in Ghana. The word ‘tro’ evolved from the local ‘Ga’ language meaning three pence, that is, the penny coins used in the Colonial Gold Coast, now Ghana. Buses were at the time charging three pence per trip, hence it was dubbed ‘trotro’.

2. Dropping is a term used to describe a charted taxi service in Ghana where the fair is usually three to five times the normal.