Deputy Transport Minister Hassan Tampuli claimed that the woman who drove Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia during the launch of Ghana’s electric bus programme was a former head porter, or kayayo, trained under a government initiative.
Verdict:
False. Independent investigations reveal that the woman, Mary Lalako Agboli, was trained by a non-profit organization, not the government. She has been a professional bus driver for six years and has never worked as a kayayo.
Background to the Claim
During the launch of Ghana’s first electric bus pilot programme in Accra on November 27, 2024, Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia took part in a symbolic ride to showcase the initiative. Deputy Transport Minister Hassan Tampuli later stated in an interview on Citi FM’s Citi Breakfast Show that the driver of the bus, Mary Lalako Agboli, was one of the kayayei trained through a government-sponsored programme aimed at empowering women in the informal sector.
The Deputy Minister said:
“You made mention of the fact that we trained some specially selected kayayei. So, yesterday, for example, they were given their tools and certificates to commence driving. Yesterday, one of them drove us from Adenta to Kimbu. One of the ladies that we trained for driving these electric buses.”
This claim was widely reported by media outlets, including MyJoyOnline, 3News, and AdomOnline, and spread rapidly on social media. Given the attention it garnered, Citi Verify undertook an investigation to ascertain the accuracy of the statement.
What We Found
1. Mary Lalako Agboli’s Background
Mary Lalako Agboli, the woman who drove the Vice President during the event, is an experienced professional driver who was trained by the Network of Women Growth (NEWIG Ghana), a non-governmental organization focused on empowering women through vocational training.
In 2017, Mary enrolled in NEWIG Ghana’s Professional Driving Initiative, which offers training in commercial and public transport operations. Following her graduation, she was employed as a bus driver for the Aayalolo Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system, where she has worked for the past six years.
Mary’s career progression was documented in several public reports, including a feature article published by NEWIG Ghana in June 2024 titled Mary Lalako Agboli: Breaking Stereotypes and Driving Towards Success.
2. Media Evidence Confirms Her Professional Career
Archived footage from a February 2020 feature by Channel One TV (formerly Citi TV) shows Mary driving an Aayalolo bus. The clip, which appears between the 2:50 and 4:53 timestamps, further validates that Mary was already an experienced driver years before the government’s training initiative for kayayei began. Watch ideo below;
Additionally, a September 2024 Instagram post from NEWIG Ghana featured Mary alongside the organization’s leadership, highlighting her continued role as a professional driver and her contributions to empowering women in the transport sector.
3. Government Training Programme Timeline
The government’s initiative to train kayayei as drivers was officially announced on May 30, 2024, several years after Mary began her career as a bus driver. It is therefore impossible for her to have been part of this programme. Moreover, evidence shows that Mary was never a kayayo, but rather a pupil teacher prior to her training at NEWIG Ghana.
Conclusion
The claim that Mary Lalako Agboli, the driver during the Vice President’s electric bus launch, was a former kayayo trained under a government programme is false. Mary’s training was conducted by NEWIG Ghana, an independent NGO, and she has been a professional driver for six years.
While the government’s efforts to train kayayei are laudable, it is important to ensure accurate representation of individuals’ achievements and backgrounds. Misattributing Mary’s success undermines the credibility of the government’s initiative and the work of organizations like NEWIG Ghana.
Source: InsiderGH.com
