313 Metro Mass buses were sold for GHC2,500 each in 2020 – Deputy MD

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Metro Mass buses

Haroun Apaw Wiredu, the Deputy Managing Director of Metro Mass Transit, has revealed that 313 Metro Mass buses were sold for GHC2,500 each in October 2020.

According to the Deputy MD, the 313 buses were sold after they were declared unserviceable, adding that the buses had minor issues but were deliberately written off and sold cheaply to cronies.

The Deputy MD of Metro Mass Transit Ltd asserted that the company was run like a criminal scheme known as “cannibalisation” under the previous government.

Speaking on Accra-based TV3, Mr Wiredu, “By 2017, when the previous government took the reins of power, it will surprise you to know that around 2017 and 2018, they declared over 400 buses unserviceable. Those buses were scrapped and sold to certain individuals associated with the system”.

“Then, two months before the 2020 election in October, another 313 buses were sold among some cronies. When I reviewed the report, I realised that a whole Metro Mass bus was sold for a paltry GH¢2,500,” Mr Wiredu added.

“What we realised was that the then management was involved in a business we called cannibalisation. Cannibalisation is a deliberate act—they saw scrapping buses as a low-hanging fruit, a way to milk the system,” he said.

He further added, “Deliberately, they would remove parts from a bus, and when it reached a certain point, they declared it unserviceable. Once declared unserviceable, they would call someone to buy it for, say, GH¢2,500 official fee”.

“We commissioned external auditors to get this issue resolved once and for all, and they submitted a draft report to us last week for our consideration,” he added.

Meanwhile, Joseph Nikpe Bukari, the Minister of Transport, has launched an investigation into the reports surrounding the auctioning of over 300 Metro Mass Transit buses under the Akufo-Addo government.

Speaking to the media in Accra on Monday, January 19, the Transport Minister stated, “As for the auctions, this was what we had, but the boards are going through to see whether or not they were of correct merit for that amount,” he said.

He added, “It is not something that I can just say that it was whether over or it was not unduly priced but it was auctions that they did, and if we need to question or to go into it, I’ve instructed all the management and boards to have a second look at it, and then we’ll see what happens next.”

“But the reality today is how do we improve on the situation we have at hand, and we have come out with these measures with the unions, and I believe that this will bring some relief to our commuters,” he said.

Furthermore, Prof Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang, the Vice President, has assured Ghanaians that the government is aware of the transport crisis and steps are being taken to address the situation.

Speaking at a stakeholder meeting on Friday, January 16, Prof Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang recognised the difficulties currently faced by commuters. 

The Vice President stated, “Sometimes, the problem is caused by all kinds of situations, including even exploitation by some of our own drivers, long queues at bus stops and terminals, congestion and all kinds of stress that come with the situation”.

“We want our fellow countrymen and women to be aware that government is not blind to the situation, that we have not seen and we don’t care. We don’t think it is somebody’s problem; it is everybody’s problem. That is why I started by saying that we need to team up to find the solutions.”

The vice president further announced that the government will roll out buses for both public and private transport operators.

She added, “His Excellency has asked me to assure all of you that he will give support to Metro Mass, Aayalolo and the private sector with new high-occupancy buses in order to augment the services in the medium term”.

“We also have plans to ensure that those that need to be repaired, the processes will be expedited to ensure they can put more buses on the road as soon as possible,” she added.

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