Bus stop 'Loading Boys' share realities of work, challenges and earnings

Bus stop attendants in Accra, popularly known as “loading boys,” have shared insights into their daily lives, challenges, and earnings.

Speaking with GhanaWeb’s Patience Adu on Around Town, the young men shed light on the realities of their work.

The loading boys explained that their primary duties include calling out destinations, directing passengers to the right vehicles, and helping drivers fill their buses quickly.

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“We are loading boys; we load buses from Achimota to Amasaman. We load vehicles on a first-come, first-served basis, and we also have leaders we work with. We can load about 70 buses in a day, and we charge GH¢10 for each,” Nana Yaw, one of the attendants, said.

Despite their importance to daily transport operations, they revealed that the job comes with significant hardship.

They spoke about facing discrimination and being stereotyped as unruly, pickpockets, and, in some cases, “junkies.” They clarified, however, that many of them are trained drivers and mates who turned to loading due to financial constraints.

“It is true in some cases, but not all of us. We only help to load the buses; we are not junkies, and we do not steal, especially here in our area.

“Moreover, we, the loading boys, are drivers and mates, but when there is no work, we resort to loading so we can afford basic necessities,” they explained.

They also opened up about the financial aspect of the job, noting that on a good day, they can earn up to GH¢700.

However, they stressed that earnings are inconsistent and depend heavily on passenger traffic and the number of buses they are able to fill.

“When we load the buses, the money goes to our leaders, who then give us our share. However, when we receive tips, they go directly to us. On a good day, we can make about GH¢700,” they added.

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PAT/EB