Transportation Management Challenges in Ghana: A Study of Three Selected Companies in the Sekondi-Takoradi Metropolis

Abstract

Effective transport systems are critical in the socio-economic development of nations. Globally, there is a wide recognition of the need to put in place adequate measures to achieve sustainable transport systems for the greater good of society. To do this, requires an awareness of the myriad of challenges faced by stakeholders in the transport sector. Against this background, the researchers sought to explore the transportation challenges companies in Ghana face using Sekondi-Takoradi Metropolis (STM) as a case. The study adopted the mixed methods approach with descriptive survey as the design. A total of 85 employees of three companies in the Metropolis was involved in the study through census data collection method. The research instruments used were questionnaire and interview guide whilst percentages, means, standard deviation and thematic analytical tools were employed for the study. The study discovered that the greatest transport management challenge in the Metropolis is the general lack of transport management experts. Other challenges include high cost of transport operations, poor vehicle maintenance, ineffective transport policies in organizations and weak transport infrastructure in the Metropolis. It is recommended that companies in STM should put in place proper training and development programs to address the skill gaps in inherent in their transport management systems.