Source: GraphicOnline
A former Managing Director of the Metro Mass Transit Limited (MMTL), Albert Adu Boahen, has said 30 VDL buses and three 40-foot containers of spare parts out of four supplied by the Dutch manufacturer VDL and arrive in Ghana in April 2024, were cleared from the port before he handed over office to his successor in March 2025.
The buses and spare parts were handed over to the MMTL through a state-to-state arrangement between the government of Ghana and the Belgian government; therefore, taxes were excluded from the arrangement.
According to Mr Adu Boahen, there were, however, delays in clearing the buses and the spare parts from the port due to issues with tax in the initial stages and later, the shipping line costs at the time the buses and spare parts arrived in Ghana in April 2024.
He said MMTL was initially not getting a full tax exemption from the government, hence the delay in clearing the buses and sparts from the port.
Prof. Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang (right), Vice President, engaging John Abdulai Jinapor, Minister of Energy and Green Transition, during her working visit to the ministry.
Prof. Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang, Vice-President, engaging Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah (left), Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, during her visit to the ministry.
He said by the time they succeeded in negotiating for tax exemption with the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) and the Ministry of Finance, the issue of shipping line costs also cropped up.
By the time the MMTL was able to get the Ministry of Finance to issue a waiver for the imports, the shipping line costs had also become an issue, with estimated charges of over GH¢300,000.
This, he said were the reason for the delay in clearing the containers by the MMTL, and that they were able to clear three containers, leaving one behind, and all this information was made available in his handing over notes.
Mr Adu Boahen was reacting to an announcement by the current MD of MMTL, Kale Cezar that a container loaded with spare parts supplied by Dutch manufacturer VDL has remained at the port for more than two years.
This, according to Mr Cezar, had compounded the operational and financial challenges confronting the state-owned transport company.
Source: www.graphic.com.gh
