On Monday, some residents of Ho who planned to travel to Accra and other parts of the Greater Accra Region were left stranded upon arrival at the station. This started building up on Friday.
This was due to the unavailability of buses at the various terminals at the main station in the Volta Regional capital.
The majority of these passengers who were youth and students returning home for their vacations were uncertain about going according to their daily schedules.
At the Ghana Private Road Transport Union (GPRTU) branch 2 terminal, Ernestina Ohene, explained that she got to a different loading terminal at about 6 am but had to leave for the branch 2 terminal because of the “protocol” being used in selecting passengers.
“Those selling the tickets, were doing protocol, since they knew some people and others were paying money to them. So, I had to leave and come here”, she narrated.
She lamented being behind schedule as she would transit from Accra to Techiman, where she would spend the holidays with her family.
A tourist from the United States, Samira, described the experience as “frustrating” as she and her clique had been in a queue for over two hours, hoping to get a vehicle to Accra.
“It is really frustrating, communication here is really bad and we don’t know when the next bus is coming”, she said.
She fears one of her friends may not meet her flight schedule due to the occurrence adding that “we’re just praying she gets to the airport in time for her flight back home.”
The Vice Chairman of GORTU Branch 2, Lawrence Awilo Atittoe said that festive activities over the weekend in and around Ho primarily led to the influx of passengers.
He further added that “this kind of situation is occasionally experienced at the end of the month in Ho, but I am trying to bring in buses from other terminals to help convey the passengers”.
There was a similar occurrence at the State Transport (STC) yard, where about 20 vehicles had left before midday.
However, there were still passengers in long queues waiting for their turn, to make their journey to the Greater Accra Region.
The STC Station Manager, Richard Ahiafor, explained that the Accra stations were experiencing a drought of passengers and hence unable to come to Ho to convey passengers back to Accra.
He expressed hope that the situation would improve as the day progressed, assuring passengers of a safe arrival at their destinations.