MMT Director urges drivers and conductors to respect commuters

Accra, Nov. 29, GNA – Mr Martin Afram, Deputy Managing Director of the Metro Mass Transit (MMT) has urged workers to create mutually healthy rapport with passengers to facilitate their patronage of the services they offer.

“Excellent customer service is another vital role workers need to play in their quest to provide affordable and efficient mass transportation in Ghana.”

Mr Afram gave the advice at a conference on the theme: “Providing Affordable and Efficient Mass Transportation in Ghana: The Role of Workers of Metro Mass Transit Limited” organised by the General Transport, Petroleum and Chemical Workers' Union of Ghana (GTPCWU) for MMT divisional union executives.

He said there is the need for workers of MMT to work hand in hand with management to build a dominant, reliable, efficient, safe and affordable service for the benefit of Ghanaians.

“As Management, we are determined to continue working towards the sustainability and profitability of MMT and this is a task which, we concede, can hardly be achieved without your support,” he stressed.

He said Management expects the Union leadership to offer a wholesome contribution from their membership either in terms of ideas, proposals or physical support geared towards removing bottlenecks in the system.

The Deputy Managing Director called on the workers to be sincere in handling the fortunes of the company, saying; “It is the responsibility of all staff of MMT to ensure that moneys due the company are not misappropriated.

“Tickets must be issued at all times by conductors and they must be appropriate and moneys collected for the provision of service are to be returned to the coffers of the company intact.”

Mr Afram advised the workers to be punctual, committed and dedicated to achieve maximum productivity.

He also urged them to take good care of the company's property and minimise accidents to the barest level so as to save money which could be channelled into improving operations to provide the people affordable and efficient mass transportation.

In an address, the General Secretary of the GTPCWU, Mr Emmanuel Mensah said the Bus Rapid Road Project by the government of promoting and enhancing free and easy movement of the people at reasonable and affordable cost is a laudable objective.

He said the objective remained the cardinal reason for the establishment of the MMT by the government and can only be achieved when all the employees of the company; management staff and workers play their roles as expected in nation building.

“This will undoubtedly call for the efficient and effective running of the buses to enable the company to continue to be in business at all times,” he noted.

Mr Mensah called on the staff of MMT to ensure that they continue to follow the rules and regulations set out in their Collective Agreement to ensure a peaceful and mutual environment to enable the organisation achieve its mission and vision.

He urged the Union leadership to sensitise their members to observe the maintenance culture and defensive driving and to avoid speeding, reckless driving, ticket malpractices; picking of passengers at unauthorised places and non observance of road traffic regulations.

The General Secretary also called on management of the company among other things, to create an enabling environment for the union representatives to continue to dialogue on issues that would bring about job satisfaction, support and belongingness to the workforce in ensuring mutual co-operation and understanding at all times.

They should also engage the union in sharing information for onward dissemination to their members, organisation of periodic medical check- up for workers while ensuring occupational health and safety.

Management should continue to improve the working conditions of the workers to commensurate with their day to day operations in order to give them job satisfaction and confidence to do their work efficiently and effectively.

The conference was also used to elect new officers to run a four- year term.

They are Mr Joseph K. Ahenkora, Chairman; Mr Edward O. Adomako Vice-Chairman; Mr James Kweku Arthur, Secretary; Mr Paul Kofi Adu, Assistant Secretary; and Mr Stephen Acquah Wilson, Trustee.

GNA