Non-school going children wear uniform to enjoy free bus ride

Sunyani, March 21, GNA - Some parents in Brong Ahafo have adopted the spurious practice of dressing their non-school going children in school uniform so they could enjoy free rides on the metro mass transit buses to various destinations.

Major Gabriel Amoako (RTD), Traffic Manager of the company in the Region the Brong Ahafo Region, told Ghana News Agency that the practice was among a number of constraints facing the company. He said when such children were questioned as to which schools they attended they became confused and remained speechless and advised parents engaged in the practice to stop.

Another constraint, Major Amoako said, was that passengers put pressure on the drivers to take off even when the bus was half-full. He explained that considering the price of fuel, which kept on rising and the low fares they charged, the company would run at a loss if they operated that way and urged commuters to be patient and bear with the company.

The Traffic Manager said despite the constraints, the company was doing well in the region and that it paid the salaries of workers every month and was able to buy fuel.

He said aside the low fares they charged, the buses had brought relief to travellers and that 15 communities had sent distress calls to the company to extend services to them.

Major Amoako said the company was expecting new Tata buses, which are robust and could travel longer distances unlike the existing buses and services would be extended to such communities. He said the region started with five buses and was now operating 19 buses, adding the company had not yet experienced any accident attributing the success to the conduct of the well-trained and experienced drivers.

The Traffic Manager advised passengers to report any problems to his office and not to attack the drivers.