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Traffic congestion has gained the attention of researchers and policy makers due to
how common it has become in the cities of Ghana. This study sought to empirically
investigate the factors that influence the choice of public transport to work and
drivers‘ agitation for increase in transport fares in the Central Region of Ghana. The
study employed quantitative research approach with structured questionnaire as the
main instrument for data collection. With respect to choice of public transport to
work, a sample of 210 household heads were selected from Kasoa using multi-stage
sampling technique. On drivers‘ agitation for increase in transport fares, simple
random sampling technique was used to select 200 drivers from Kasoa, Swedru and
Mankessim. A double-hurdle model was used to analyse the factors that influence
choice of public transport to work as well as households‘ expenditure on public
transport. Probit regression model was used to examine factors that influence drivers‘
decision to agitate for increase in transport fares. The results revealed that the level of
income, reliability, convenience and safety of public transport are the factors
determining participation in public transport to work while gender, household size,
employment type and affordability of public transport influence households‘
expenditure decisions on public transport. In addition, results of the study showed that
cost of fuel, cost of spare parts and nature of road are the factors that influence
drivers‘ decision to agitate for increase in transport fares. The study recommends that,
public transport should be made safe, reliable and convenient to enhance choice of
public transport to work and this will help reduce traffic congestion during peak
hours. Also, though the introduction of import tax waiver on spare parts will help
reduce cost of spare parts, steps need to be taken to rehabilitate and maintain roads
and reduce prices of fuel, in order to minimise drivers‘ decision to agitate for an
increase in transport fares thereby making public transport more affordable for
households. |
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