Govt to investigate operations of Metro Mass Transport

Government is to investigate the operations of the Metro Mass Transport Company Limited, Mr. Mike Hammah, Minister of Transport announced on Tuesday. He said the independent committee expected to begin work within two weeks would investigate the breakdown of more than 100 buses and other challenges facing the company and come out with recommendations. Mr Hammah was addressing journalists after inspecting some broken down buses belonging to the company in Accra. He expressed concern about the current state of the buses which was affecting the company's operations. Mr. Visschers Henk, Managing Director, Metro Mass Transport Company, said most of the buses that had broken down were imported from China between April 2004 and 2006 and had road worthiness for only four years. He said the company also had buses imported from Belgium and India which were operational. Mr. Henk said it had 400 buses out of which 286 had broken down emphasising that about 139 buses majority of which are 'double decker' buses had major problems. "Out of the 286 broken down buses, 102 of them are still road worthy except some few technical problems that are being handled," he added. He said the company was making arrangements to acquire 50 buses by the end of the year to boost its operations. According to Mr Henk, problems associated with clutches, engines and other electrical systems were the major cause of the break down. Source: GNA