THE WESTERN Regional office of the Metro Mass Transit (MMT) Limited is said to be losing revenue as a result of the closure of its terminal in Takoradi since last Thursday.
The Sekondi-Takoradi Metropolitan Chief Executive, Abdul Mumin Issah, ordered for the closure of the terminal last Thursday.
The decision was part of efforts to help deal with a misunderstanding that has ensued between some transport operators in the metropolis and a private operator, Bimbisala Cooperative/Jeouna Transport.
Bimbisala Cooperative/Jeouna Transport has been operating in the Effia-Kwesimintsim Municipality (EKMA) in the region for some time and serving the transportation needs of both passengers and traders for long distance journeys.
However, the Sekondi-Takoradi Metropolitan Assembly (STMA) has decided to allow the private operator to move from EKMA to operate at the MMT terminal in the STMA.
The transport operators say the decision would not only worry commuters in EKMA but also create congestion at the terminal, which is in the Sekondi-Takoradi Metropolitan area.
Last Thursday, the transport operators, including the Ghana Private Road Transport Union (GPRTU) and MMT, embarked on a sit-down strike to protest the decision of city authorities.
The Sekondi-Takoradi mayor subsequently asked the MMT and the private transport operator to stop operating from the area until further notice.
According to the MMT, the closure of the terminal is adversely affecting its revenue generation.
The Western Regional Manager of MMT, David Teye Tekutey, said his outfit loses close to GH¢30,000.00 daily by not operating from the terminal in Takoradi.
“We were operating at the terminal and you brought in a private person, causing confusion at the place. Instead of asking the person to go back and help settle the issue, you rather asked the original occupant of the place to leave.
“It’s sad that the STMA has refused to heed to our concerns after a series of meetings on the issue,” he added.
He continued, “So our buses had been parked since then. We are losing revenue because we do not have any place to load in Takoradi.”
FROM Emmanuel Opoku, Takoradi