Story by Hannah Dadzie
Facebook: Hannah Pinky Ama Dadzie
Twitter: @DadziePinky
The euphoria that usually comes with travelling on 24th December seems to be dying down. Checks by GBC News at some bus terminals in Accra showed that the hustle and bustle normally witnessed on the eve of Christmas at the terminals, with long queues, shortage of vehicles have been absent. Most passengers, bus conductors and Supervisors expressed varied feelings regarding Christmas. They said the socio-economic situation has evolved and that people’s living standards have reduced with outbreaks of the Covid-19.
Most bus terminals are normally busy during the yuletide, as travelers try to beat the last minute deadline for the start of the festivities. A visit by GBC News to some transport terminals in Accra showed a slow pace in business especially at the Neoplan station, as some of the drivers went about calling out potential passengers. Most of them blamed the situation on economic hardship coupled with the Covid-19 pandemic. At the STC yard, the story was quite different as there was only one bus on schedule at the time of visit. The Operations Manager, Williams Adi told GBC News they were expecting more buses as 13 had already taken off.
“For STC is business as usual, we sell advance tickets online, as well as at the station. So far we have done 13 servicea and we expect more of our customers to troop in. Comparing last year and this year, significantly is the same. We hope by the end of the day we will get double figures. Although Covid-19 has affected a lot of activities , and with the new variant, it’s very challenging but we are still coping with business hoping things will improve,” Mr Adi indicated.
Some of the Passengers GBC News spoke to said Christmas is best celebrated with family thus the need to travel and spend some time with them.
“I came from the US and I’m traveling to Kumasi to celebrate Christmas with my family. It’s being a while since I visited them. I pray and hope to get home safely and have fun with my family.”
“I come from Kikam in the Western Region, because of work I have been away for a very long time so I’m visiting my mother to celebrate the Christmas with her. Infact throughout my life, this year’s Christmas is the worst of all. Things are hard economically, we don’t have money but we need to find a way to survive,” Another passenger said.
At the VIP Bus Terminal, most of the travelers and Traders were seen taking either their first or second jabs as the Ghana Health Service has set up a centre there. A nurse at the Ablekuma Central Health Directorate, Benita Anamoo told GBC News they are bringing the vaccine to the doorsteps of the people to help contain the virus especially during the yuletide.
