Understanding the operational characteristics of paratransit services in Accra, Ghana: a case study

Abstract

This paper studies the operational characteristics of paratransit services in Accra, Ghana. These semi-formal minibus operations provide the bulk of transportation services in Ghana, but little is known about them. In this paper, modern data collection methods leveraging smartphones are used to survey six paratransit routes. Data is collected both during trips and at the station. Analysis reveals that paratransit vehicles typically operate with high load factors, but do a limited number of rotations per day. It also shows that outbound and inbound trips have very different profiles, because different rules apply to passenger boarding in each direction. A key finding is that vehicles spend more time queuing at the station than driving with passengers onboard. This considerably reduces their profitability and constitutes a major source of inefficiency. Implications of this finding are discussed and the potential for reform is explored