Contraflow: “No Aayalolo bus has been involved in any accident" — Ayariga

The Minister for Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs, Mahama Ayariga, has rejected social media reports claiming that an Aayalolo bus was involved in an accident, describing the claims as misleading.

He explained that the buses had only diverted from their routes to avoid an accident involving another vehicle before proceeding with their journeys.

“No Aayalolo bus has been involved in any accident,” he insisted.

The Minister made the clarification on Thursday, November 5, during the presentation of 4 dispatch motorcycles to the Motor Traffic and Transport Department (MTTD) to support the Aayalolo service's contraflow operations.

Mr Ayariga accused the person who circulated the viral video of deliberately distorting the incident by adding a voice-over suggesting that the Aayalolo buses had been involved in the accident.

“Somebody captured the accident and then put a voice on it, lying that the Aayalolo buses were involved in an accident,” he stated.

He cautioned the public against spreading unverified information on social media, particularly claims that could undermine confidence in public transport services and create unnecessary panic among commuters.

“Why would you try to create fear and panic among the travelling public that an Aayalolo bus got involved in an accident, so that people would be afraid of taking Aayalolo buses when it is not true that they were involved in any accident?” he questioned.

The Minister further disclosed that technology could be used to identify the individual behind the video but expressed concern that any attempt to sanction the person might be interpreted along political lines.

“The technology exists for us to locate that person. And you see, when you locate that person, and you are punishing that person for trying to cause fear and panic, then people start reading all sorts of political meanings into it,” he said.