MPs, government officials use Metro Mass services without paying – Osei-Owusu

First Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Joseph Osei-Owusu, has chided colleague members, government officials and institutions that do not pay when they procure the services of Metro Mass.

Speaking on the floor of parliament, the former vice-chair of the Roads and Transport Committee of parliament and CEO of DVLA indicated that he had in his possession documents detailing MPs, government officials and state institutions that are owing the transport firm.

“… there’s a petition of members of this floor who have used the services of Metro Mass and they are demanding monies from them and they have not paid. If you go through the records there are reports of other government agencies and political bodies that have used the services of Metro Mass and have not paid," he stated

A motion for an application for waiver of import duties, import VAT, GETFund levy, NHIL levy, ECOWAS levy, Exim levy, Special Import Levy, AU levy and other taxes amounting to 25,144989.27 on vehicles to be procured for Intercity STC company ltd as well as that for Metro Mass Transit Ltd was laid before parliament to be considered.

There were complaints from some of the MPs that the transport firm was not making profits as they should, stressing that they had to internally generate funds as well. They noted that doing that will reduce the pressure on government to fund them and buy buses among others.

But Mr Osei-Wusu jumped to the defence of MMTL, adding that members of the house ought to set a good example by not taking advantage of the firm since debts owed to a transport firm such as VIP were also settled.

“…we are the same people complaining that they are not making any profits; they won’t make profits if we continue to use their services and we do not pay.

“We should first set the example. Once we take the service, pay for the fee. If it was VIP we would have paid. If it is Metro Mass, we should pay, however, small or big the charge is,” he noted.

Parliament on Wednesday, March 11 approved a motion to grant a tax waive on import duties, import VAT, GETFund levy, NHIL levy, ECOWAS levy, EXIM levy, Special import levy, AU levy and other taxes amounting to GHC14,785658.77 on vehicles to be procured for the Metro Mass Transit Limited in order to enhance their services and operations across the country.