PROTOA in a tussle with MMTL

Aflao, May 21, GNA - Renewed tension is mounting between the Metro Mass Transit Limited (MMTL) and the Progressive Transport Owners Association (PROTOA) at Aflao over alleged operation of an illegal transport company by the local managers of the MMLT.

PROTOA on Tuesday blocked the MMLT terminal to prevent buses alleged to belong to the "All Ford Travel and Tours Company" from operating there.

A similar confrontation was said to have ensued between the two companies early this year resulting in injuries on both sides, while an attempt by the Aflao Circuit Court to broker peace between the two sides was unsuccessful. Mr Cephas Exe, PROTOA Volta Regional Secretary told the Ghana News Agency that, the MMTL local officials have been issuing fake tickets to run the buses belonging to the "All Ford Travel and Tours Company" in the name of the GPRTU.

He alleged that the buses belonging to the disputed Company do not pay tolls to the Ketu District Assembly just as the MMTL buses do not. Mr Exe said if the MMTL was short of vehicles, it should request for more from its mother organization or approach the GPRTU or PROTOA for assistance.

He said the small buses which compete with the GPRTU and PROTOA unjustifiably, often abandoned its passengers in the vicinity of the 37 Military Hospital in Accra, instead of taking them to Achimota as the case should be.

Mr Exe said PROTOA would never allow the MMTL Management to continue their practice. He said the MMTL Management during the settlement by the Circuit Court at Aflao requested to be allowed up to April this year, to stop doing business with the alleged illegal buses but had not lived up to their word.

Mr Alex Vitashi, MMTL Aflao Supervisor, alleged that the defunct Omnibus Service Organization was operating mini buses at the Aflao terminal with the MMTL. He said he could however not tell if some of his workers were helping those buses to load at the station. He denied that there had been any confrontation with PROTOA over the issue or any settlement by the Circuit Court.