Deputy Managing Director of Metro Mass Transport Limited (MMTL), Haroun Apaw Wiredu, says only 42 out of the 99 Daewoo buses purchased under the previous New Patriotic Party government are currently operational, raising serious concerns about procurement and asset management at the transport company under the previous administration.
According to him, the remaining 57 buses have been abandoned, with several now stripped of their parts.
Speaking on TV3 on January 24, as monitored by NewsDesksGH, Mr. Apaw Wiredu explained, “Currently as we speak, the Daewoo buses that we have operational across the country, currently about 42.”
He explained that new management has constituted an internal Board of Survey, made up of technical experts drawn from Metro Mass, the State Transport Company (STC), and the procurement department, to assess the extent of the damage.
“They’ve been mandated to go round the country, look at the gravity of the challenge identified, the mechanical error detected, they will submit it to management for consideration then we upscale it to board for some kind of decision to be taken then we inform government accordingly as to what should be done with those machines,” he said.
Mr. Apaw Wiredu also disclosed that external auditors have completed a draft audit report into the procurement of the buses, and government plans to hold responsible persons accountable.
“We commissioned external auditors, they completed their draft report last week for us to look at it and revert back… as you’re aware, we will upscale it to the ministry for some prosecutorial action to be taken, that one I can assure you.”
He added that the then Managing Director of MMTL Albert Adu Boahen, and the former Minister for Transport Kwaku Ofori Asiamah, represented the state during negotiations for the bus procurement.
“As new management the report that I reviewed indicate that those who led those transactions were then Managing Director and the then Minister for transport. They actually represented the state to broker such an agreement,” he said.
The Deputy Managing Director further revealed that containers loaded with spare parts for some of the buses have been locked at the ports for over three years, a situation he described as deeply troubling.
“Not knowing that the previous government sat down, slept unconcerned and a 40 footer container loaded with spare parts was locked out at the ports for the last 3 years,” he said, noting that the new management only became aware of the issue about two months ago.
Mr. Apaw Wiredu acknowledged that significant lapses had occurred at Metro Mass over an extended period but assured the public that a “massive shake-up” is underway to restore accountability and improve operational standards.
