Evaluation of Transport Maintenance Depot Systems in Ghana Using Panel Data for Adoption Rate Measurement

Transport maintenance depots (TMDs) play a crucial role in ensuring efficient vehicle management within transport sectors globally. In Ghana, these facilities are essential for maintaining and repairing vehicles used by various public and private entities. A mixed-methods approach was employed, integrating quantitative (panel data) and qualitative methods to comprehensively analyse data from multiple TMD sites in Ghana over a five-year period. The analysis revealed that the adoption rate of TMD systems varied significantly across regions, with an average adoption rate of 65% for depots located in urban areas compared to 40% in rural settings. Factors such as proximity to depot facilities and local infrastructure were key determinants of system uptake. This study provides valuable insights into the challenges and opportunities associated with implementing TMD systems in Ghana, offering recommendations that could facilitate more widespread adoption and improvement of these critical services. Based on our findings, it is recommended that policymakers prioritise investment in infrastructure improvements to enhance connectivity between depots and service areas. Additionally, targeted awareness campaigns should be conducted to increase public understanding and acceptance of TMD systems. The maintenance outcome was modelled as Yᵢₜ=β₀+β₁Xᵢₜ+uᵢ+εᵢₜ, with robustness checked using heteroskedasticity-consistent errors.