400 Metro Mass Transport Workers Dismissed

FOUR hundred workers of the Metro Mass Transit (MMT) Limited have recently been dismissed for various offences, including stealing and cheating of passengers.

Some of the conductors and the drivers connived and collected  monies from users of the  buses without issuing them with tickets.

Mr Hens Vissahers, Managing Director of the MMT, disclosed this to newsmen in Tamale yesterday at a briefing.

He  was in Tamale as part of an official visit to the Northern Region to see how the buses of the MMT were operating.

He, therefore, entreated passengers to always insist on their right by demanding  their tickets after payment.

Mr Vissahers hinted that the MMT was putting  in measures to reduce numerous accidents involving its buses.

According  to him special regular  training were being offered their drivers in order to sharpen their skills and improve on their knowledge on road signs and traffic regulation.

“To ensure a safe and reliable public transport system, MMT shall on a consistent basis dispose of and replace non-operational buses”, he stated.

He  further hinted that the company was introducing what is called vehicle-tracking  system which, he said, would check the speed, locations and fuel consumption of their vehicles on routes.

On the way forward, Mr Vissahers mentioned that the MMT would set up a public  transport system and an integrated  network of schedule buses.

This system, he said, would interlink residential areas, business districts, the central bus terminal and villages in a reliable and affordable manner.

Mr Vissahers said the company was working closely with the government to introduce a Bus Rapid Transit system, which he emphasised, would help address the heavy congestion of commuters in the cities.