GPRTU RECEIVE 33 BUSES FROM MASLOC AT AFFORDABLE PRICE

Mr. Kwaku Ofori Asiamah, the Minister of Transport has expressed concern over lot of ageing transports vehicles in the country and the necessity for the Ghana Private Road Transport Union (GPRTU) to purchase new buses to ensure the passenger’s safety.

The Minister revealed this on Tuesday at Accra during a presentation of fleet of vehicles to the GPRTU by the Microfinance and Small Loans Center (MASLOC). The 33-seater buses were given under a hire purchase agreement by the government. According to Graphic Online, the government in 2016 acquired buses for the union but the cost was too high to be guaranteed by members therefore, the New Patriotic Party’s administration reduced the price from GH¢705,550 to GH¢328,000; a 53.5% reduction to make it easier for the GPRTU to acquire them.

Present at the program was the Chief of Staff, Mrs. Akosua Frema Osei Opare. She open up on how the GPRTU could not acquire the vehicles for commercial purposes to the pricing hence government’s intervention. She defined government’s commitment to support the Union to create economic c opportunities for its members.

She also advised the head of the Union to make sure the vehicles are always in good shape by way of maintenance in order to boost the transport industry and make travelling easier for passengers through affordable fares.

The Chief Executive of MASLOC, Mr Stephen Amoah, said the centre had been able to establish 200 district offices and disbursed GH¢600 million since 2017.

Microfinance and Small Loans Centre (MASLOC) is a microfinance apex body responsible for implementing the Government of Ghana’s (GoG) microfinance programmes targeted at reducing poverty.