On Tuesday, November 11, 2025, a crisis loomed over Accra’s bustling Central Business District as tensions boiled over at the Kinbu terminal of the Aayalolo Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) service.
The day started like any other, but it soon spiraled into chaos, threatening to grind the city’s vital public transport system to a halt.
It began as a standoff between Aayalolo workers and a group of individuals alleged to be party supporters and associates of the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA). For two days, these groups had grappled for control over the terminal’s lucrative parking operations. On that fateful Tuesday, the situation escalated when the Mayor of Accra, Michael Kpakpo Allotey, arrived at the terminal with his entourage, determined to assert the AMA’s authority.
Eyewitnesses recalled a tense atmosphere that quickly gave way to violence. Members of the Mayor’s entourage, undeterred by the presence of police officers and GAPTE officials, allegedly assaulted several Aayalolo staff. One staffer’s only “offence,” witnesses told Classfmonline.com, was responding to the Mayor’s threat to tow parked buses by saying management would simply bring more buses. Another staff member was beaten, his shirt torn, and a driver was slapped for uttering the phrase “massa massa”, a remark considered disrespectful by the Mayor’s guard.
The confrontation reached its peak when the Mayor reportedly ordered the arrest of an Aayalolo staff member, accusing him of obstructing operations. Amidst the chaos, witnesses claimed the Mayor made politically charged remarks, referencing the previous government and questioning the current management’s right to reclaim the terminal under the NDC administration.
The assaults pushed Aayalolo drivers to the brink. Fearing for their safety, they threatened to park their buses and withdraw their services, a move that would have stranded thousands of commuters and paralyzed Accra’s transport system.
Enter Awudu Dawuda Esq., the Acting Managing Director of the Greater Accra Passenger Transport Executive (GAPTE). Sensing the gravity of the situation, Dawuda intervened swiftly. He met with the aggrieved drivers, listened to their concerns, and assured them that management was committed to their safety and would seek justice for the assaulted staff.
After some hesitation, the drivers, buoyed by management’s assurances, agreed to return to work, narrowly averting a citywide transport disruption. But the incident has left deep scars. Public outrage has grown, with calls for a thorough investigation into the conduct of the AMA officials and the alleged politicisation of public transport.
Observers say the tumultuous events at Kinbu highlight the urgent need for clear policies governing the management and control of Aayalolo terminals. Only then can Accra’s commuters be assured of smooth, uninterrupted service—and workers of their safety and dignity
