As Kumasi's population approaches 4 million, the city's road infrastructure is buckling under pressure. The time for a modern mass transit system is not tomorrow — it is today.
Every morning, hundreds of thousands of Kumasi residents spend hours in traffic jams that cost the economy billions of cedis in lost productivity. The current trotro system, while beloved, is insufficient for a city of this size and ambition.
Cities like Nairobi, Lagos, and Addis Ababa have invested in Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) systems that have transformed urban mobility. Kumasi has the density, the geography, and the economic activity to support such a system.
The Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly's smart city plan is a step in the right direction, but it must prioritize mass transit above all else. A BRT corridor from Asafo to Suame, and another from Adum to KNUST, would serve hundreds of thousands of daily commuters.
The investment required — estimated at GH₵800 million — is significant but not insurmountable. A combination of government funding, development bank loans, and private sector participation can make it happen.
Kumasi's future as a great African city depends on decisions made today. Let us not delay.