NPP Conference: Blay’s 275 buses arrive

The acting National Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Freddie Blay has taken delivery of the 275 buses he promised the party’s constituency offices.

The Intercity STC Coaches Limited has been identified as the service managers for the buses.

Mr. Blay who is a leading contender in the NPP’s national chairmanship race to be held in Koforidua this weekend per documents spent a whopping $11, 412, 500 – an equivalent of GhC52,846,171.65 – to secure the buses for the party.

Documents available to Starrfmonline.com reveal that Mr. Blay, who is serving as a “Guarantor” on behalf of constituency chairpersons of the NPP, who are Trustees of the transport facility, made a 30% deposit of the contract price, which is equivalent to $3,000, 000 (GhC13,795,561).

Speaking to Journalists at the Tema Port after taking delivery of the buses, Spokesperson for Mr. Blay, Richard Nyamah, said the decision by the campaign team of the acting national chairman of the NPP to acquire the buses for the 275 constituencies is motivated by his quest to ensure that the party’s constituency offices generate revenue on their own and not to rely on government and or the party leadership for their sustainability.

He reiterated that the buses would be managed by the State Transport Corporation (STC), a decision which is essentially to ensure that the buses are managed professionally and to guarantee maximum profitability.

The loan facility contracted to acquire the buses according to the spokesperson is expected to be paid back in full within the next two years.

The make of the vehicle is Toyota Hiace 2.5L Diesel High Roof with ABS, Manuel Transmission buses and a unit price is going for $41,500 (GhC190,592.36).

Meanwhile, some regional chairpersons of the NPP have accused Mr. Blay of peddling falsehood on the purchase of the 275 buses for each constituency of the party for commercial purposes.

According to them, per the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for the Supply of Vehicles between the NPP and Senalie Group as well as the contractual agreement signed by the parties to the MOU the purchase of the vehicles was an agreement between the NPP and Senalie Group and not with the Acting Party Chairman, Mr Blay.

Some of the chairpersons point to the fact that the acting chairman who is contesting the position of National Chairman position is misleading party delegates and the entire nation.

They insist that they were forced to disclose the project to acting Chairman Blay at a point when there was a demand for a guarantor by the supplying company, possibly, the NPP particularly when the reference legal entity for the chairpersons is the legally registered party under the laws of Ghana.