Passengers of state transport firm STC have lamented over the decision by the company to load to capacity of their buses despite the social distancing directive by President Akufo-Addo.
According to the passengers, STC busses that picked 44 travellers before the covid-19 pandemic is still picking same number today when the world is hooked on to social distancing protocols to combat the virus which has killed scores across the world.
Some passengers who were travelling from Takoradi to Accra Wednesday told Empire FM’s Emmanuel Ohene Gyan that attempts to get management of STC to reduce the numbers were met with pushbacks.
“Some of the passengers told me STC officials say they cannot reduce the numbers because they have ensured that they wore facemasks and also wash their hands before getting onboard the vehicle,” Ohene Gyan reported.
Responding to the claims, Deputy Managing Director in Charge of Operations at STC Kwabena Sintim Aboagye told Starr News the company is taking the best option possible in order to stay in business.
” We looked at the option of social distancing onboard but then we realised that with the configuration of the seat of the buses, for instance, a bus capacity of 44 passengers, if we had to ensure social distance it means we cannot even take an average of 20 passengers on a bus which will then be at a loss to the company.
“At any given moment, for us to break even, there should be at least 60 per cent occupancy, that’s about 30 passengers on the bus, anything below, the company will be running at a loss,” he told Starr News Thursday.
Source: Ghana/Starrfm.com.gh/103.5FM
