The Managing Director of Metro Mass Transit Limited, Cezar Kale Esq., has announced plans to procure 1,000 new buses, including minibuses, cargo trucks, and electric buses, in a two-phase exercise in the next two years aimed at reviving the struggling state transport company.
According to Mr. Kale, an initial 500 buses will be rolled out in the first phase of the procurement to boost the company’s fleet and improve operational efficiency. He revealed that over 200 old and unserviceable buses are set to be scrapped as part of the restructuring.
Currently, only between 120 and 130 buses are operational nationwide on a daily basis — a situation the MD described as dire, significantly affecting the company’s ability to mobilize revenue and serve commuters effectively.
“The company fleet of buses has run at an all time low and this has affected the company seriously in terms of our revenue mobilization.Many of our buses are on rocks others must be scrabbed Having notices this we have started planning .My deputy and the planning committee are already putting together to ensure we replenish the fleet of buses that have run “.
He added “We are saying in acquiring new buses ,the taste of Ghanaians and comfortability have changed so we will not do as what we did yesterday years .we have some routes that may need shorter buses ,some may need luxurious buses ,we have some routes that have lot of cargo on the way ,so all these has informed us the need to bring various kinds of Buses and vehicles . But our major plan is that we need a total in the next two years not less than 1000 buses to operate and cargo trucks but for the mean time we want to see how best we can procure not less than 500 buses and cargo trucks to start with and as time goes on we add other fleets”.
Mr. Kale made this known during a familiarization tour of the company’s operations in Koforidua in the Eastern Region. After inspecting the main bus terminal, the MD, his Deputy in charge of Operations and Technical, Haruon Apaw-Wiredu, and other top management members, met with workers at the company’s depot.
The Managing Director assured staff of management’s commitment to improving conditions of service, implementing overdue promotions, instituting a welfare scheme and insurance packages, and enhancing security for all employees.
Deputy Managing Director Haruon Apaw-Wiredu expressed disappointment with the current state of Metro Mass operations in the Eastern Region, which is running with only four buses. He pledged that the company will soon undergo a comprehensive reset to modern public transport operational standards, with improved facilities, an expanded fleet, and strengthened human resource capacity.
“It is sorry to say that is the worse across all the regions visited so far . Koforidua the of h need to up your game .we are going to do major restructuring this restructuring is not going to target any worker “
Source: Ghana/Starrfm.com.gh/Obed Kojo Ansah
