The provision of transport services in Africa is largely left to the market. In many instances however, the market has not been working effectively. Development funds for the transport sector are mainly used for developing infrastructure but there is a potential to save on costs by focusing on improving the efficiency of vehicles themselves. Strong reform measures are required if the transport services provided and the mobility of people are to be improved.

The Transport Research Laboratory (TRL) analysed the transport sectors in the capital cities and one rural town each in Ghana and Uganda to identify ways in which transport services could be improved. In addition to interviews with main stakeholders including public transport operators and transport sector regulators, a range of surveys were carried out to identify major problems facing transport operators. The researchers also examined relevant regulations as well as the current organisation of transport services and their impact on the use of vehicles.

Following the liberalisation of economies and the removal of government controls on various sectors in the 1990s, transport services in Ghana and Uganda are now largely controlled by the private sector. As a consequence, the number of vehicles has increased substantially. In Uganda, vehicle registration doubled between 1993 and 1994, and vehicle ownership grew by twenty-two per cent per year between 1995 and 1998. Government intervention in monitoring and governing the transport sector is limited to vehicle licensing. In spite of almost complete deregulation, the transport industry remains inefficient and operating costs are high due to a number of technical and institutional factors.

The study highlights the following problems:

• Unrestricted access to urban transport activities has led to an abundance of unreliable vehicles on the roads, which increases accidents, congestion, pollution, and breakdowns. Uganda does not have an age limit for vehicle imports and ninety per cent are used vehicles.
• Freight transport is highly inefficient and service is unreliable. Although overloading is common, there is low vehicle utilisation and high empty shipment rates (particularly with regard to return loads).
• Relevant ministries lack the resources and institutional capacities to carry out planning, regulation, and monitoring functions adequately.
• Transport markets are not competitive. Established transport associations dominate, preventing non-members from entering the market. These associations have acquired significant influence, which has led to political patronage and resistance to any changes.

A holistic approach to improving vehicle operations is required. Short-term technical improvements need to be complemented by long-term policy reforms aimed at enhancing competition to increase operation and organisation efficiency of transport services.

The researchers recommend several measures including:

• Increase access to finance by potential vehicle owners by providing adequate leasing schemes, including reduced interest rates and extended repayment periods.
• Improve technical control including age limits on vehicle imports, improved standards of drivers and operators training, and compulsory bus driving licenses.
• Establish an independent transport regulatory body to maintain competitive market conditions and enforce transport regulations effectively.
• Establish a public-private partnership arrangement for the development and management of bus and lorry parks to enhance competition and introduce more transparency.
• Provide technical assistance to relevant ministries for institutional and capacity building to strengthen their management structure.

Transport services do not work effectively without adequate regulations and institutions. Therefore, a comprehensive approach including different reform measures, both technical and institutional is required to improve efficiency. Many of these measures are controversial and require broader level sensitisation and information sharing to gain critical support from relevant decision makers.

Source(s):
‘Improved vehicle operations in sub-Saharan Africa’, TRL Ltd, by Mustapha Benmaamar, May 2003 Full document.

Funded by: DFID (IUDD) KaR 7791

id21 Research Highlight: 21 December 2004

Further Information:
Mustapha Benmaamar
Transport Research Laboratory Ltd
Crowthorne House
Nine Mile Ride
Wokingham
Berkshire RG40 3GA
UK

Tel: +44 (0)1344 770066
Fax: +44 (0)1344 770356
Contact the contributor: mbenmaamar@trl.co.uk

Transport Research Laboratory, UK

Other related links:
DFID "Transport for Development"

'On the move – new approaches to improving rural transport'

'Towards participatory, pro-poor transport policy'