“Stakeholderism” in urban transport planning in Greater Accra Metropolitan Area: a reality or glorified mantra?

Abstract

Involving persons to whom transport services are affected in the design and management of transport infrastructure should not be viewed as a privilege but as a right-based approach that ensures successful implementation of transport policies. However, in some Low and Medium Income Countries (LMICs), this social accountability principle in public policy is often neglected as public projects are devoid of genuine social concerns. This study assessed how stakeholder engagements across organizations (state-private) and within organizations (private-private) affect transport policies and services in Greater Accra Metropolitan Area (GAMA) of Ghana. Data for the study were obtained through interviews with officials of public transport agencies, private transport service operators and supplemented by observation of peak hour transport activities on selected roadways. The results reveal a master-servant relationship in which city officials give information to transport service operators without any opportunity to obtain feedback from operators. This relationship breeds apathy among transport service operators and consequently brings untoward delays to commuters. There is the need to strengthen stakeholder engagement among public and private actors involved in transport infrastructure management from planning stages through to implementation stages. This will ensure inclusive local governance and accelerate spatial planning for improved mobility in GAMA.