On July 6, 2022, President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo officially opened 45 buses for use by the Intercity Metro Mass Transit Company Limited.
It was the first batch of the state-owned intercity transportation company's planned 100 buses.
The project's initial phase includes the acquisition of 100 buses, after-sales service assistance, and enough spare parts to repair about 50 damaged buses.
When President Akufo-Addo started the project, he declared that technical help in the form of a grant from the Belgian government would also be given to pay for the training of drivers, maintenance workers, and business operating support.
The assistance, he said, highlighted the long-standing ties between the two countries and he extended thanks to the Belgian government for it.
Belgian assistance
Approximately 513 intercity buses were provided to Metro Mass Transit Limited under the Kufuor administration through concessionary finance from the Belgian government.
In order to expand the company's fleet, President Akufo-Addo announced that the government of Belgium has offered another another concessionary loan for the purchase of 40 buses every year for the next five years.
He added that having an effective transportation system was the reason he made it a priority to relaunch the Metro Mass Transit system in the regional capitals through sustained investments in infrastructure and services. He noted that the existence of an effective transportation system was essential to the growth of the economy.
The launching of the buses, according to President Akufo-Addo, would enhance business operations and provide customers with better services.
Maintenance
President Akufo-Addo emphasised the significance of fostering a culture of effective maintenance. He voiced concern that the misuse or neglect of public resources had eroded society and put a significant strain on the nation's resources.
I thus implore the board and management to take action to guarantee that the buses I am commissioning today endure throughout time, as the Managing Director himself has pledged.
It's encouraging to see that Metro Mass Transit Limited is recovering its position as a vital source of public transportation that is committed to serving the people of Ghana, he continued.
The business will look into further private sector partnership agreements to bring in more buses to supplement the fleet, according to President Akufo-Addo, who expressed the hope that these measures, together with others, would breathe new life into the service.
According to him, the government's investment in the public transportation infrastructure was necessary to ensure the prosperity of the growing population.
He expressed the hope that the business will continue to develop, grow, and create more employment opportunities in order to establish itself as a prominent provider of public transportation services.