The Intercity STC Coaches Limited on Tuesday received 100 new buses from the government for it to be added to its fleet.
This makes it one of the largest supply of buses to the company since its establishment.
President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo presented the 100 buses to the management of the company at its headoffice in Accra.
At the handing over ceremony on Tuesday [October 27, 2020] President Akufo-Addo stated that the presentation of the buses demonstrates government’s commitment to revamping the operations of the company, and position it to play its role as the most celebrated transport company in Ghana.
In 2016, the company received 50 new buses.
The government explained that the 100 new buses is to assist the company in fulfilling its aspiration of expanding services to other West African countries and that the company was assisted to acquire the new buses on its own balance sheet.
Expressing his delight at the success story of STC, President Akufo-Addo applauded the CEO of STC, Nana Akomea for ensuring that the state-owned company is determined to stand on its own feet and contribute rather than be dependent on the public exchequer.
With COVID, and the closure of borders, having impacted negatively on the company’s revenue stream, especially as 50% of its operations is ‘ECOWAS-based’, President Akufo-Addo stated that the government decided to step in to provide support for STC so it can continue to operate.
“Again, I am very happy to hear that, after December, when the support runs out, they will be in a position to stand on their own two feet and proceed from there. We have to salute his determination,” he added.
He continued, “We know how important transport is to the economy of our country, and the work of the STC to the economic development of our country is extremely significant.”
President Akufo-Addo was confident of the enormous benefits to be accrued from the presentation of the buses to STC, and urged it to provide even better services to its patrons, and to those along the new routes to be developed.
Towards improving the country’s transportation sector, Government has also procured one hundred (100) buses for the Metro Mass Transit Limited. Funds are also being secured for the supply of a total of four hundred (400) buses from Korea and Belgian to augment the existing fleet. All these buses are expected to be in the country by the second quarter of 2021.
The President urged management of STC to continue to inculcate serious maintenance regimes into their operations to enable the citizenry derivee value for money, and ensure that there are no revenue leakages.
Source: www.graphic.com.gh
