Mobility and access to transportation for the rural poor: Examining the role of intermediate means of transport (IMTS) in Ghana

In the absence of conventional vehicles, there is the need to consider other alternatives and one such alternatives is the use of intermediate means of transport. The research examined the role of Intermediate Means of Transport (IMT) in addressing the transportation needs of the rural poor in Ghana. The study was undertaken from a qualitative perspective because of the need to ask more probing questions than just limiting the participants to a set of responses. The data was collected through in-depth interviews and focus group discussions. The questions for the in-depth interviews and focus group discussions were generated from a critical review of literature on intermediate means of transport as well as rural transport in general. The responses highlight the fact that in the absence of the conventional vehicle, IMTs can be used as the main vehicle on rural roads as they have the potential to address some of the transportation challenges particularly associated with the rural poor in Ghana. The research concludes that IMTs positively impact on the transportation of small and medium loads which are difficult for human beings to carry and, at the same time, expensive to carry by other means of transport.