If I Had the Money, I’d Buy Buses” — John Dumelo

“If I Had the Money, I’d Buy Buses” — John Dumelo Steps In to Support Commuters Amid Fare Hikes

The Deputy Minister of Food and Agriculture and Member of Parliament for Ayawaso West Wuogon, John Dumelo, has spoken out against persistent passenger overcharging during rush hours, expressing confidence that the Ministry of Transport is taking steps to address the challenge.

Mr. Dumelo was reacting to a viral video that showed him urging stranded commuters to board a Metro Mass Transit (MMT) bus. Explaining the incident, he said he had personally visited Metro Mass Transit to arrange and pay for buses to transport passengers stranded at Okponglo and Shiashie, travelling towards Madina and Lapaz.

According to him, the commuters were unable to get vehicles to return home because several commercial drivers and their mates had imposed excessive fare increases during peak hours, making transport unaffordable for many passengers.

Speaking on Onua FM’s Yɛn Nsempa Morning Show, the lawmaker said the transport situation is an issue he feels deeply passionate about, particularly because of the strategic nature of his constituency.

“The transport situation is an issue I am deeply passionate about, especially because most of the major roads lead to Ayawaso,” he said.

Mr. Dumelo added that the free transport initiative he facilitated is a temporary measure aimed at easing the immediate hardship faced by commuters. He noted that the intervention will run for about one week to ten days.

“To be honest, if I had the money, I would buy buses to commute my people every single day,” he stated.

The Ayawaso West Wuogon MP emphasized that lasting solutions must come through coordinated efforts by state institutions, particularly the Ministry of Transport, to regulate fares, enforce compliance, and improve public transport systems.

Mr. Dumelo’s actions have drawn widespread public attention and praise, with many commuters describing the intervention as timely and compassionate amid ongoing economic pressures.

He reiterated government’s commitment to protecting commuters from exploitation and encouraged passengers to report cases of overcharging as efforts continue to restore fairness and discipline within the public transport sector.