Management of the Metro Mass Transit Company Limited, has appealed to staff of the company to resume work with an assurance that their salaries, which have been in arrears for two months, will be settled by Friday.
The workers are on strike in protest of their unpaid salaries and are calling for the ouster of the company’s Managing Director (MD), Albert Adu Boahene, as well as two other senior executives, whom they have described as inefficient.
According to the unhappy employees, their concerns have gone unheard, with little to no attention from management; thus, their demand that the aforementioned officials be removed.
Head of Communications at Metro Mass, George Asante, addressing the media on the matter, urged the agitated group to calm down as management works assiduously to secure their salaries.
“By Friday, we will be able to close the August payroll, and it will be left with just one month’s salary arrears. I don’t think that it is fair for workers to use current economic challenges to call for the firing of their Managing Director,” he explained. Mr Appiah also appealed to the workers to consider the challenges of the company and resume work.
He also argued in favour of the MD, claiming that he was not at fault for the current development.
He claims that the inability of the company to raise fares to keep up with increases in fuel prices has had a significant impact on the company’s ability to generate revenue.
“The Managing Directors are not necessarily the problem. The Problem is about the challenges that the company is facing, and the challenge we are facing is the inadequacy of the buses,” Mr. Asante said.
Additionally, he noted that “we have a gross salary wage bill of GH¢3.9 million. With the 187 buses we are running, we are not able to mobilise enough to pay these things and other overhead costs.”
Metro Mass Transit Limited is a public transportation provider in Ghana. It was established to provide a reliable and affordable means of transport for commuters within villages, towns, and cities as well as intercity movement.
It was founded in 2001, but it was officially incorporated in 2003. The shareholders included the SIC Insurance Company, National Investment Bank, Ghana Oil Company, Agriculture Development Bank, Prudential Bank Limited, and Social Security and National Insurance Trust.
Source: The Independent Ghana