According to eyewitnesses, the bus from Accra reached a spot between Peki and Kpeve when the driver’s dashboard suddenly burst into flames.

The fire spread through the vehicle resulting in a stampede as passengers forced their way out to safety.

The passengers, who mostly had their luggage loaded in vehicle’s boot, made frantic efforts to douse the fire but were unsuccessful.

They all watched in despair as the bus with Registration number GC 5099 was completely razed by the inferno.

“Passengers on board did everything possible to quench the fire by throwing sand onto the bus but could not stop it” an eyewitness recounted.

None of the occupants of the bus suffered any injuries but Citi News understands that all luggage and other items on the bus were lost in the fire.

It is unclear what might have caused the fire but a source at the State Transport Company, who confirmed the incident to Citi News, said their outfit would soon officially inform the public on the details.

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By: King Nobert Akpablie/ctifmonline.com/Ghana

The post Passengers escape unscathed as STC bus bursts into flames appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

The company’s management suspended operations from the south to Tamale, following the temporary closure of the Buipe and Yapei bridges.

[contextly_sidebar id=”XcmrEgDJoGSGh6o5TODu4tfT70p4pmR4″]This is affecting most travelers who rely on the Intercity STC coaches for safety, reliability and comfort.

This unpleasant situation has incurred the wrath of Intercity STC users who are calling for a resumption of the services.

One of the affected users, McDonald T, narrated his frustration in a Citi News interview, saying, “In fact, it has been a problem for us who use STC. Assuming all the private transport service providers suspend their services, imagine the socio-economic implications.”

“We just want to appeal to those in charge especially Nana Akomea, to ensure that they reactivate the movement of STC coaches in the Northern Region. I want to appeal to the Speaker of Parliament as well, to look into this very issue. It is not the best for us at this time of our lives because we are losing money and other things.”

Buipe, Yapei bridge closure: Cars, passengers stranded

The temporary closure of the Buipe and Yapei bridges in the Central Gonja District of the Northern Region is affecting socioeconomic activities in the area and beyond.

Roads and Highways Minister, Kwasi Amoako Atta, ordered the temporary measure for routine maintenance ahead of the Christmas.

He estimated that the rehabilitation works would last for four weeks, and proposed that motorists should use the Eastern Corridor, Fufulso-Sawla and Central routes as alternatives.

Since the closure, motorists from the Sahel and Northern and Upper East Regions have been stranded at the bridges site due to the long hours they have to spend waiting to cross. Commercial transport service providers including the VVIP, are compelled to use the Salaga-Makango Ferry through Yeji to connect to the southern part of the country.

Transporters of perishable farm produce to the south, are in bad business because of the number of days they spend on the road.

The two main bridges connect Ghana to neighboring countries including Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger and Togo. The proper construction of the Daboya bridge along that of Buipe and Yapei, will begin in 2018.

According to the Minister Roads and Highways, each of the three new bridges is estimated at 25 million US dollars each.

Afram Plains ferry relocated to Yeji-Buipe

Government has also temporally relocated the ferry at Afram Plains to Yeji-Buipe in the Northern Region, following the closure of bridges in the area for repairs and the subsequent traffic congestion in those areas.

The youth of Afram Plains had earlier rejected the relocation, and had vowed to do everything possible to stop government from doing so.

Speaking in a Citi News interview, a Deputy Minister of Transport, Daniel Titus-Glover, explained that, the ferry’s relocation was necessary to reduce the traffic congestion that had mounted, following the closure of the two bridges at Buipe and Yapei.

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By: Abdul Karim Naatogmah/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post STC users angry over suspension of services to Tamale appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

According to a Citi News source, the meeting between leadership of the VIP, the GPRTU and the STC ended inconclusively.

[contextly_sidebar id=”MJ02Dve8dGaP8WQs2eDixAJrXqoTmqV2″]The meeting was to address a dispute between operators of the private VIP buses and the STC, who are both claiming ownership of a parcel of land at the Asafo terminal.

Drivers and some workers of the VIP, who had come in with two fully loaded buses and tied red bands, were restricted by the security from entering the premises of the Ashanti Regional Coordinating Council.

The leadership were only allowed in to attend the meeting.

Ashanti Regional Minister, Simon Osei Mensah, has declined comment on the outcome of the meeting,but says his office will issue a statement by close of day today [Tuesday].

Some officials of STC, who had visited the Asafo Market terminal to launch the Corporation’s new terminal were denied access to the venue by VIP bus officials.

STC failed to consult other GPRTU branches

The Director of Finance for VIP, Prof. Lukemond Owusu Ansah, explained that his outfit staged the protest to oppose some GPRTU officials’ decision to give out part of its land to STC without the consent of other branches of GPRTU.

“This issue came up and there was a little bit of violence here and we told them and the matter was taken to Manhyia …They were told that the whole place was acquired by GPRTU and it was demarcated for the various branches… We have about 21 branches there and it is the property of GPRTU … One or two executives cannot sell the property of GPRTU to STC.

“It is the whole 21 union members who are just contesting that it is constitutionally wrong…We are only saying that STC cannot occupy GPRTU’S land. It is not a property of Kokofu Union. It is a property of GPRTU as a whole” he insisted.

He also denied suggestions that they VIP transport operators, are only resisting STC because they are scared of competition.

One arrested in STC, VIP fight over terminal in Kumasi

On Monday, one person was arrested during the protest by workers of the Neoplan bus terminal at Asafo, Kumasi during the standoff.

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By: Hafiz Tijani/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post STC ordered to suspend operations at Asafo terminal appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

Some officials of STC, who had visited the Asafo Market terminal to launch the Corporation’s new terminal were denied access to the venue by VIP bus officials.

[contextly_sidebar id=”X38A2yI9LKLfDP6honeowyg3EBvyMcfv”]The Deputy Managing Director for STC, Sintim Aboagye, on the Citi Breakfast Show condemned the move, saying they had met all legal requirements needed to begin operations at the said area.

“Their problem is they don’t want us to be here and they don’t want us to be in competition with them and which I believe has no legal basis because in every industry competition is key, and I thought that if we should allow them to do that then that becomes monopoly.”

“The place does not belong to STC. The place belongs to the Kokofu branch of GPRTU. They had a 25-year permit and they have exhausted only one year, so they have about 24 years outstanding. We have entered into the tenancy agreement with them and we have acquired the necessary legal documentation from KMA to protect us and everything that has to be done to allow us to start our operations has been done.”

STC failed to consult other GPRTU branches

But the Director of Finance for VIP, Prof. Lukemond Owusu Ansah, explained that his outfit staged the protest to oppose some GPRTU officials’ decision to give out part of its land to STC without the consent of other branches of GPRTU.

“This issue came up and there was a little bit of violence here and we told them and the matter was taken to Manhyia …They were told that the whole place was acquired by GPRTU and it was demarcated for the various branches… We have about 21 branches there and it is the property of GPRTU … One or two executives cannot sell the property of GPRTU to STC.

“It is the whole 21 union members who are just contesting that it is constitutionally wrong…We are only saying that STC cannot occupy GPRTU’S land. It is not a property of Kokofu Union. It is a property of GPRTU as a whole” he insisted.

He also denied suggestions that they VIP transport operators, are only resisting STC because they are scared of competition.

One arrested in STC, VIP fight over terminal in Kumasi

Meanwhile, one person has been arrested during a protest by workers of the Neoplan bus terminal at Asafo, Kumasi, in the standoff between them and the State Transport Company Limited (STC).

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By: Marian Ansah/citifmonline.com/Ghana
Follow @EfeAnsah

The post VIP resisting us due to fear of competition – STC appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

This was after operators of the VIP buses and Inter-City STC clashed over a loading terminal on Monday morning.

It took the intervention of police to calm the situation, and the Ashanti Regional Security Council has promised to meet the leadership of the STC, and the Neoplan bus terminal to find a long-term solution to the impasse between both parties.

The Ashanti Regional Minister, and the Kumasi Metropolitan Chief Executive, were also at the scene.

Some officials of STC had visited the Asafo Market terminal to launch the Corporation’s new terminal, but they were denied access to the venue.

The STC’s  move to Asafo was in line with the agenda of the new administration to open as many satellite stations as possible across the country, to make the Inter-City STC more accessible to passengers.

But operators of the VIP claim the move to relocate the STC station close to them was to scuttle their businesses and ‘steal their passengers.’

The also said STC’s decision to establish a loading place at the terminal, is not in order, since they already have two terminals within the Kumasi Metropolis.

Drivers from the Neoplan terminal blocked STC buses from moving, a development that prompted police to deploy over 20 officers to maintain order at the scene.

VIP scared of competition

Speaking on the Citi Breakfast Show, the Deputy Managing Director for STC, Sintim Aboagye, said: “We are here at the Asafo market terminal in our bid to re-brand, recapture and re-position our  brand. One of our strategic positions is to bring transport to the doorstep of the private users and we thought it wise to secure a spot at Asafo VIP near VIP station so in our attempt to launch the station this morning, we came here and realized VIP had virtually blocked us with about three of their buses, denying us access to the place that we legally acquired to carry out operations.”

He wondered why VIP carried out such a move when they had met all legal requirements to undertake their activities there.

“The place does not belong to STC. The place belongs to the Kokofu branch of GPRTU. They had a 25-year  permit and they have exhausted only one year, so they have about 24 years outstanding. We have entered into the tenancy agreement with them and we have acquired the necessary legal documentation from KMA to protect us and everything that has to be done to allow us to start our operations has been done.”Mr. Aboagye believes that the VIP operators are only resisting because they are scared of competition.

STC failed to consult other GPRTU branches 

But the Director of Finance for VIP, Prof. Lukmond Owusu Ansah, explained that his outfit staged the protest to oppose some GPRTU officials’ decision to give out part of its land to STC without the consent of other branches of GPRTU.

“This issue came up and there was a little bit of violence here and we told them and the matter was taken to Manhyia …They were told that the whole place was acquired by GPRTU and it was demarcated for the various branches… We have about 21 branches there and it is the property of GPRTU … One or two executives cannot sell the property of GPRTU to STC.

“It is the whole 21 union members who are just contesting that it is constitutionally wrong…We are only saying that STC cannot occupy GPRTU’S land. It is not a property of Kokofu Union. It is a property of GPRTU as a whole” he insisted.

He also denied suggestions that they VIP transport operators, are only resisting STC because they are scared of competition.

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By: Hafiz Tijani & Delali Adogla-Bessa/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post One arrested in STC, VIP fight over terminal in Kumasi appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

It took police men from the SWAT team from the Ashanti police Headquarters led by Commander of Operations, Supt. Caesar Abanga, hours to bring sanity to the densely populated BB arena as the two protagonists held unto their entrenched position.

Traffic came to stand-still on the tiny stretch of road as many shops remained closed at the time of filing this story.

Operators of the Inter-City STC wrote to the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (KMA) on September 6, 2017, to acquire one of the dormant bus terminals close to the VIP lorry station at Asafo of which they were granted permit to operate on September 12, 2017.

The move by STC according to the Head of Operations, Ashanti, Lord Inusah Lansah, was to help the state-owned company to run a parallel station at Adum (which remains their main office) and Asafo to maximize profit.

Indeed, the plan to move to Asafo was in line with the agenda of the new administration to open as many satellites stations as possible across the country to make the rebranded Inter-City STC more accessible to passengers.

But the operators of the VIP said the move to relocate the STC station close to them was to scuttle their businesses and ‘steal their passengers.’

A leading member of the VIP, Kwame Adu Gyamfi, told the Daily Graphic, it took them years to build the transport business and would not allow anyone to scuttle it.

“When we came here, the entire arena was swampy and unattractive. It took hard work and dedication to bring the place to this current level. It will be unwise on our part to give portions to our main competitor,” he said.

The Public Relations Officer of the KMA, Godwin Okumah Nyame, confirmed the granting of permission to STC, and noted that it was a competitive world and VIP should brace themselves for it.

He said there were other minor stations close to VIP which loads to Accra, and so why should the VIP managers target only STC.

Mr. Okumah Nyame said the move by STC should rather be applauded by commuters because the in-coming competition would inure to their benefit.
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By: Graphic/Ghana

The post Operators of STC, VIP fight over terminal in Kumasi appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

Some officials of STC had visited the Asafo Market terminal to launch the Corporation’s new terminal, but the unexpected happened when some officials of VIP denied the officials access to the venue.

Reports indicate that, managers of the VIP buses had also blocked the main entrance to Asafo Market, bringing commercial activities to a halt.

Speaking on the Citi Breakfast Show, the Deputy Managing Director for STC, Sintim Aboagye, said: “We are here at the Asafo market terminal in our bid to re-brand, recapture and re-position our  brand. One of our strategic positions is to bring transport to the doorstep of the private users and we thought it wise to secure a spot at Asafo VIP near VIP station so in our attempt to launch the station this morning, we came here and realized VIP had virtually blocked us with about three of their buses, denying us access to the place that we legally acquired to carry out operations.”

He wondered why VIP carried out such a move when they had met all legal requirements to undertake their activities there.

“The place does not belong to STC. The place belongs to the Kokofu branch of GPRTU. They had a 25-year  permit and they have exhausted only one year, so they have about 24 years outstanding. We have entered into the tenancy agreement with them and we have acquired the necessary legal documentation from KMA to protect us and everything that has to be done to allow us to start our operations has been done.”Mr. Aboagye believes that the VIP operators are only resisting because they are scared of competition.

“They see us a competition that will give them a run for their money so they want to stop us.”

STC, the once vibrant state transport company which nearly collapsed, is up on its feet again in a massive re-branding offering better services.

STC failed to consult other GPRTU branches 

But the Director of Finance for VIP, Prof. Lukmond Owusu Ansah, explained that his outfit staged the protest to oppose some GPRTU officials’ decision to give out part of its land to STC without the consent of other branches of GPRTU.

“This issue came up and there was a little bit of violence here and we told them and the matter was taken to Manhyia …They were told that the whole place was acquired by GPRTU and it was demarcated for the various branches… We have about 21 branches there and it is the property of GPRTU … One or two executives cannot sell the property of GPRTU to STC.

“It is the whole 21 union members who are just contesting that it is constitutionally wrong…We are only saying that STC cannot occupy GPRTU’S land. It is not a property of Kokofu Union. It is a property of GPRTU as a whole” he insisted.

He also denied suggestions that they VIP transport operators, are only resisting STC because they are scared of competition.

–

By: Marian Ansah/citifmonline.com/Ghana
Follow @EfeAnsah

The post VIP blocks STC from loading buses at Asafo market  appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

He said the efforts of the previous management of the company under the John Mahama government must be appreciated since it helped transform the company.

In a facebook post on Friday he said the former Managing Director, Nuamah Donkor oversaw the acquisition of 50 state of the art buses last year to help revamp the venerable state company.

“I am encouraged by the interest in STC affairs expressed by Ghanaians on Facebook and elsewhere.
I will plead that the transformation of this venerable state institution is not turned into an NPP-NDC rivalry,” he said.

“Hon Nuamah Donkor and his team played a great role in bringing STC back. They oversaw the acquisition of 50 state of the art buses/coaches in October last year. Indeed one newly revamped station is proposed to be named for Nuamah Donkor,” he added.

Nana Akomea, who was appointed Managing Director of the STC in April, 2017 by the Akufo-Addo government said the new management of the company is “building on this to totally transform the operations of STC and return it to profitability.”

In his post, he announced that “firm arrangements have been concluded to triple STC fleet strength by December 2017.”

Among other developments at the STC he said were the retraining and rebranding of drivers, introduction of female cabin crew members and fixing of the inconsistent wifi.

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By: Jonas Nyabor/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post Don’t politicize STC affairs – Nana Akomea to Ghanaians appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

The Minister of Finance, Ken Ofori Atta who revealed this in Parliament on Monday said in all 200 of the buses will operate on compress natural gas while the 600 others will operate on diesel.

[contextly_sidebar id=”fwmFd6ggYpKUKp1oPlfYtyl8ucMlghco”]“…As part of Government’s effort to improve public mass transportation, the Ministry initiated processes for the acquisition of buses for the two Public Bus Companies. The objective is to improve the current bus fleet of Metro Mass and Inter-City State Transport Corporation (ISCT).”

“In all a total of 800 buses will be acquired. These include 200 Compress Natural Gas (CNG) and 500 diesel buses for the Metro Mass Transit and the remaining 100 diesel buses for ISTC,” he added.

Mr. Ofori-Attah made the promise when he delivered the mid-year budget review in Parliament on Monday.

This comes on the back of complaints by both companies of lack of buses.

The State Transport Company earlier said it was looking to acquire some buses idling under the Quality Bus System (QBS) system, popularly known as Aayalolo, to augment its fleet.

The Managing Director of STC, Nana Akomea explained that his outfit needed a minimum fleet strength of 150 buses but currently has less than 50.

“Despite slight difference in the configuration, it will be possible for us to look at some of them and see which of them can be deployed for the short haul… It is a matter of rethinking how to redeploy the buses that are sitting idle,” he added.

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By: Godwin Akweiteh Allotey/citifmonline.com/Ghana
Follow @AlloteyGodwin

The post Gov’t to purchase 800 new buses for MMT, STC appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

The Board members include Mr Samuel Oppong, Chairman; Nana Akomea, the Managing Director as the Deputy Board Chairman.

Other members of the Board are Mr Daniel Soglo from the Ministry of Transport, Mr Hayford Kofi Nimoh, Alhaji Musah Mumuni, Mr Jaezi Orleans-Lindsay and Mrs Eva Mens from the Ministry of Finance.

Representatives from the Social Security and National Insurance Trust are serving as members.

The Minister urged the Board not to interfere in the operations of the management of the company but to give them technical advice to ensure efficiency.

He said there is the need to work toward a vision where ultra modern terminals and commercial facilities are developed to provide the quality service required by passengers.

Mr Asiamah said a 21.7 acre land belonging to the company had reduced to 9 acres due to temporary and permanent structures mounted by encroachers and this has the tendency to impede future developments.

The Sector Minister urged the Board to work with the management to ensure that all unauthorised structures were demolished.

He also urged them to adopt and introduce modern technology with the aim of improving revenue generation in the company and assured them of the Ministry’s support for them to deliver their mandate.

Mr Oppong said financial management operation in the areas of ticketing and many other areas would be provided by the Board to assist the company yield the necessary result for the development of the country.

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Source: GNA

The post Minister of Transport inaugurates Intercity STC board appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.