Metro Mass Transit Company Limited
 | This article's factual accuracy may be compromised due to out-of-date information. (December 2012) |
 | |
 Metro Mass Transit LTD bus in Ghana | |
| Founded | 2003 |
|---|---|
| Headquarters | Ghana |
| Service area | Ghana |
| Service type | Bus rapid transit, public bus service and school bus service |
| Alliance | Tata Starbus Tata Motors |
| Fuel type | Diesel, NGV (Trial) |
| Website | MetroMass.com |
The Metro Mass Transit LTD is a public transportation company in Ghana. The company was set us to provide reliable and affordable means of transport for commuters within villages, towns, and cities as well as provide intercity movement.
Early days
Public bus companies have operated in Ghana since the Ominibus Service Authority (OSA) started its operations in 1927. The OSA contributed a lot to the Ghanaian society in terms of public transport. However, OSA's assets were divested in 1995.
Conception
Metro Mass Transit (MMT) arose from an idea from President John Kufuor who spoke of the need of introducing a mass transit bus system in the cities of Ghana at his inauguration speech on 7 January 2001. President Kufuor directed the re-introduction of public mass transport in the metropolitan and municipal areas to ensure the safe, affordable, efficient and reliable transport of commuters. Since then, the government has been actively promoting public mass transportation.
Metro Mass Transit Limited was officially incorporated in 2003. The shareholders include State Insurance Company (SIC Insurance Company), National Investment Bank, Ghana Oil Company Limited, Agriculture Development Bank, Prudential Bank Limited and SSNIT. These together have 55% shareholding. The Government of Ghana holds the remaining 45% shares.
Operational Areas
Since the introduction of the Metro Mass Transit, the following areas have benefited from the service:[1]
- Accra Metropolitan Area
- Tema Metropolitan Area
- Kumasi Metropolitan Area
- Sekondi-Takoradi Metropolitan Area
- Tamale Metropolitan Area
- New Juaben Municipal Area
- Sunyani Municipal Area
- Cape Coast Metropolitan Area
- Agona West Municipal Area
- Ho Municipal Area
- Wa Municipal Area
- Bolgatanga Municipal
- Birim Central Municipal Area
Fleet Size
MMT at the moment[when?] has a fleet of buses made up of Yaxing, DAF, Neoplan VDL, VDL Jonckhere, VDL Dutch, and Iveco buses. It is expected that the size of the fleet will reach 1,000 by the end of the year 2008.
Fleet: Current Fleet January 2008 Expected in 2008 End of 2008:
| Module | Fleet(s) | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| MMT Fleets 2008 | |||
| Yaxing | 400 | 0 | 400 |
| Tata
|
26 | 0 | 26 |
| DAF | 176 | 0 | 176 |
| VDL Neoplan | 69 | 64 | 113 |
| VDL Jonckheere | 102 | 110 | 112 |
| Fiat Irisbus/Iveco | 8 | 0 | 8 |
| Total | 781 | 174 | 955 |
The Fiat-Iveco buses were donated by the Italian Government and helped a great deal during the pilot phase. These buses have played their part and are being phased out.
The Yaxing buses were manufactured in China and supported by the Ghana Government. On 13 April 2006, MMT received 150 Yaxing buses from the Ministry of Roads and Transport (MRT) to augment the MMT fleet. This brought the total number of Yaxing buses received to 400 and the total operational MMT fleet to over 600.
All DAF & VDL buses have been financed through an ORET Grant agreement between the Dutch Government and Ghana. Thirty-five percent of the value is a gift of the Dutch Government whilst 65% has been provided as a loan. All DAF Neoplaan & VDL Neoplan buses are manufactured at the Neoplan factory in Kumasi.
Passengers Carried
MMT carried almost 40 million passengers nationwide from January to October 2007 over 12,000,000 kilometres (7,500,000 mi). MMT buses have carried 36,456,300 passengers nationwide and have given 3,724,644 school children free ride.
Operational Issues
A pilot Bus Rapid Transit project in Accra, connecting Adenta with the Central Business District and the Kwame Nkrumah Circle, carrying over 20,000 passengers a day commenced in September 2005. The buses operate every 15 minutes and tickets are sold in advance.
Recent achievements of MMT include
- Free ride for school children in uniforms (Primary and JSS) in all MMT buses, nationwide University Campus Service to the University of Ghana in Legon and to the UDS Campus in Tamale.
- Opening of branches in Wa & Bolgatanga − Opening of branches in Wa & Bolgatanga.
- Increasing the bus fleet of Tamale to start an intra-city bus service − Increasing the bus fleet of Tamale to start an intra-city bus service.
- Launch of a main hub at Yendi, to set up a high frequency service between Tamale, Wulensi and Zabzugu − Launch of a main hub at Yendi, to set up a high frequency service between Tamale, Wulensi and Zabzugu.
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Opening of the following routes in 2007:
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Mission & Vision
In general, MMT wants to set up a public transport system, an integrated network of scheduled buses. A public transport system interlinking residential areas, business districts, central bus terminals, suburbs and villages in a reliable, efficient, safe and affordable way.
The focus of MMT is presently[when?] on the short and medium distances, i.e. intra-city transport. MMT aims to co-operate closely with the Government to ensure that the pilot Bus Rapid Transit System succeeds. A Bus Rapid Transit System is the solution for heavily congested areas in the capitals of Ghana and that is why the current Bus Rapid Transit System of MMT will be copied to other relevant areas. Ghana can be one of the forerunners in Africa that combines bus infrastructure with a frequent bus service very effectively. Free bus lanes are a dream for every commuter but as well for the various police, ambulance and fire services.
Job Creations
MMT has grown to be one of the major employers in Ghana. MMT's current[when?] staff strength of around 2,474 is expected to exceed 3000 by the end of 2008 with the arrival of about 258 buses. Janitorial services, security, bus washing and cleaning are outsourced to third parties providing employment for additional 500 persons. On account of the construction of the buses in Kumasi, several indirect jobs have been created in the manufacturing sector. In general productivity of the workforce in Ghana would increase, since MMT can offer fast and reliable transport from home to the workplace. Moreover, the operations of MMT would empower the Ghanaian community by making job, shop, school and healthcare better accessible.
References
- ^ "Title unknown". Retrieved 2012-12-13.