Management of MMTL in a group picture with some union executives at respective branches
Government is set to augment the fleet of the Metro Mass Transit Limited (MMTL) with about 400 new set of buses, through the Ministry of Transport and management of the company.
The Managing Director of the MMTL, Albert Adu Boahen, made this disclosure during an operational tour to the Northern, Upper East, Upper West and Bono regional offices of the company.
Mr Boahen said the move was part of measures to revamp its operations, and enhance public transportation system in the country. According to him, it will also help MMTL to operate at optimal level, improve on its profitability, and make transportation more dignifying and comfortable for the people of Ghana.
He said the plan is to get 400 new buses, 100 of which are an arrangement reached with Belgium and Dutch governments that former President Kufuor partnered to bring the company.
“Per the arrangement, within the next five years, the Dutch and Belgium governments agreed to supply the company with 500 VDL buses, and a supply of 100 intercity VDL buses was supposed to come each year for the Metro Mass Transit Limited. Last year, we were expected to receive the first consignment of 100 but due to COVID-19 and other external challenges, only 45 of the VDL buses were received and commissioned by the President on July 6, 2022,” he recounted.
The Managing Director also indicated that the remaining 55 is expected to be received in April this year, noting “arrangements are far advanced by the Ministry and the Board to get an additional of 300 intercity Daewoo air conditioned buses”.
The tour
The operational tour, he explained, was aimed at interacting with the staff to appreciate the challenges in their respective regions as well as sharing his vision for the company for this year.
Mr Boahene stressed the need to get his outfit’s old fleets replaced with new buses since no transport company could survive in business using old buses. Accordingly, he lauded Akufo-Addo government for assisting the company with some 144 new intercity Daewoo air-conditioned and VDL buses since assuming office in 2017.
He also commended the Minister of Transport, Kwaku Ofori Asiamah, and the Board for their continuous support in providing adequate number of new buses to support the company.
The Managing Director encouraged the staff to change their attitude towards work in order to restore the confidence of the government and its cherished customers whilst expecting the arrival of the new buses.
He expressed the hope that the government would continue to support MMTL as it embarks on aggressive fleet renewal programmes aimed at replacing the current old fleet.
He also gave an assurance that workers of the company would reciprocate the kind gesture by working assiduously and conscientiously to maintain the great state asset for the good people of Ghana.
Concerns
Meanwhile, some branch managers and staff at the various branches highlighted a number of challenges facing their respective offices, which are primarily due to inadequate and aged buses.
The workers expressed the hope that once the new buses are procured to support the operations, all the challenges will be nipped in the bud.
The Finance Manager of the company, Emmanuel Obeng, made a presentation of the financial statement to reflect the country’s current financial position as a company.
He admonished the workers to desist from all forms of financial malfeasance. He also urged them to accept and work with the various reforms introduced by Management such as the E-ticketing system, advance ticketing system and capital projects initiated, among other initiatives.
These, he indicated, will go a long way in improving the growing concerns and quality of the business.
For his part, the Head of Corporate Communications, George Krobea Asante, advised the workers to refrain from the attitude of sharing corporate information and putting classified information about the company into the public domain without authority.
He therefore charged the workers to always resort to the company’s policy on information dissemination in order to safeguard the image of the company.
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