Enhancing passenger safety and security in Ghana: Appraising public transport operators' recent interventions

There are increasing calls for regular monitoring and evaluation of safety and security strategies
of public transport (PT) operators, especially in developing countries where PT safety and security
concerns abound. In respect of this, this study examined the passenger safety and security
interventions of PT operators in Ghana. Both the accident-incident theory and routine activities
theory served as the theoretical framework within which the study was rooted. Guided by the
convergent parallel mixed methods design, data were drawn from in-depth interviews with six
major intercity PT operators as well as questionnaires administered to 273 intercity PT passengers.
The field data were analysed using both thematic (qualitative data) and correlational
(quantitative data) analyses in line with the study design. Varied perspectives on the state of PT
passenger safety and security in the country were expressed, and operators’ interventions in this
regard were appraised. The study emphasised the need for periodic review of the regulatory
framework establishing public transport undertaking by the Metropolitan, Municipal and District
Assemblies (MMDAs) to reflect changing safety and security circumstances.