STC to Terminate Contract With Vanef

THE PUBLIC Relations Officer (PRO) of the Intercity State Transport Company (STC) Coaches Ltd, formerly known as Vanef STC, Mr. Kwabena Dadzie Frimpong, has disclosed that the new Management Board of the company has unanimously resolved to terminate the contract of Vanef.

He said the name Vanef was placed on the company temporarily in order to get a name to transfer the company's assets.

Speaking in an interview with Chronicle, Mr. Frimpong explained that previously the State Transport Company had Vanef Ltd, David Dorte & Company and SSNIT as its shareholders before the termination of Vanef Ltd.

He noted that the previous board signed a contract with Mr. Owusu Bonsu, the manager of Vanef Ltd, for two years, which was to be renewed, based on good performance and since the company at that time needed a company's name on their assets, they temporarily adopted the name Vanef Ltd.

Mr. Frimpong told the Chronicle that Vanef Ltd after its two years failed to live up to expectation and that led to the abrogation of the contract in last April. Thus, he said, customers were not satisfied with the services provided by the company.

He mentioned that Vanef was having 7.2% share in the company. However, it was a known fact that eventually, the name Vanef would be changed so when the new board took place, it made it its first priority to change the name, hence the announcement that Vanef STC is to change to Intercity STC Coaches Ltd.

He noted that so far, SSNIT is having the biggest share in the company, totalling 92% shares.

Responding to whether or not there was any fishy deal when Vanef was in operations, Mr. Frimpong replied in the affirmative, saying, "There was an investigation by the Bureau of National Investigation (BNI), the current board, as well as the current government, but all proved there was nothing like a fishy deal that went on during their term of office".

Responding to allegations that some travellers, that is those from the northern part of Ghana, spend the night in the yard, he said "As far as management is concerned, we are not aware that travelers spend the night in the yard. Those travelling from Accra to the north come to the yard at dawn and wait till morning for their buses."

However, he said that the company had plans to put up hostels for travelers who arrive late in the night and at dawn to lodge. "We have even started with this at Cotonou and Abidjan where a number of our nationals are living and doing business."

As part of measures to ensure that the company provides services to meet international standards, the PRO hinted that forex bureaux would be established in their yards throughout Ghana, to cater for customers from neighbouring countries like Cote D'Ivoire and Togo.

"In order to establish these forex bereaux, we are far advanced in negotiations with Ghana Commercial Bank Ltd., and we shall start operating them immediately we finish our negotiations".

Talking about security, the officer told this paper that 'So far, there is no security problem'. The company has a 24hour surveillance security at all the stations and makes periodic announcements for people to take care of their luggage.