Government to receive buses from Brazil for companies -Veep

Accra, Aug. 10, GNA - Vice President John Dramani Mahama on Tuesday announced that government would soon receive a fleet of buses from Brazil to be distributed to major transport companies in the country.

He said the Inter-City State Transport Company (STC), Metro Mass Transport (MMT) and the Ghana Private Road Transport Union (GPRTU) would be the initial beneficiaries of the facility as soon as negotiations were concluded by the two parties.

Vice President Mahama announced this when he launched 490 Yutong Buses jointly imported from China by Stanbic Bank and J.A Plant Pool Ghana Limited for other transport companies in the country.

He said the provision of the buses was part of the negotiations that went between the governments of Ghana and Brazil during his recent business tour to that country.

The first batch of Yutong buses were imported into the country in October 2008 and distributed to members of the GPRTU, PROTOA and other Private road transporters, which are currently used for medium and long distances in the country.

The new fleet made up 300 buses, 21-seater, 60 buses, 31-seater, 60 buses, 35-seater and 70 buses, 49-seater, would be used to augment the transport system and to give the upper class travelers some comfort.

Vice President Mahama called on the transport companies to open up more routes that would facilitate the movement of passengers, particularly in the rural and urban areas where there was scarcity of transport.

"I wish to suggest to GPRTU and her partner unions to restructure their operations to allow high capacity buses to be deployed in the cities, especially during the rush hours and busy periods," the Vice President said.

He called on the companies to take advantage of the economic stability in the country to delve deep into business ventures that would create extra jobs for Ghanaians and build a sound economic image for the country.

Mr Robbin Shen, African Division Director of Yutong Group, announced that their spare parts centre would be located in Ghana.

He said his outfit was also considering setting up their assembly workshop in Ghana to offer intra-city buses and coaches for West Africa especially for the ECOWAS countries.

Dr Alhassan Andani, Managing Director of Stanbic Bank Ghana said his outfit would continue to engage in businesses that would ultimately better the lives of all Ghanaians.

"Stanbic has partnered government and the private sector to help develop the country by financing projects across a broad range of sectors, which will ultimately improve the quality of lives of Ghanaians."