Concerns over the disposals emerged after MMT’s Deputy Managing Director, Haroun Apaw Wiredu, revealed that the buses were sold shortly before the 2024 general elections, with some reportedly going for as little as GH¢2,500.

Speaking to journalists in Accra on Monday, Mr. Bukari explained that the review is intended to determine whether proper procedures were followed and whether the buses were sold at reasonable market value.

The ministry has tasked both MMT management and its governing board to re-examine the auction transactions and identify any potential irregularities.

“Regarding the auctions, this is the information available to us, and the boards are reviewing the transactions to determine whether the values were appropriate,” Mr. Bukari stated.

He stressed that the matter cannot be concluded hastily, adding that any questions surrounding the sales will be fully addressed once the review is completed.

“It is not something I can conclude on immediately. The auctions did take place, but if there are questions to be asked, we will go back into it and decide on the next steps,” he said.

While the probe continues, Mr. Bukari noted that the ministry is prioritising efforts to improve public transport delivery and reduce the daily burden on commuters.

He added that ongoing discussions with transport unions are expected to help stabilise operations and provide relief for passengers.

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Speaking on Asempa FM’s Ekosii Sen show, Mr. Adu Boahen explained that when he assumed office in 2018, the company was in a dire state, with only about 120 operational buses out of over 1,500 allocated to the company since its inception.

According to him, many of the buses had outlived their usefulness and were either cannibalised for spare parts or scattered across the country with major mechanical faults.

He revealed that in 2012, about 400 buses procured under former President John Agyekum Kufuor were sold at GH¢500 each after being valued and stripped of usable parts, with similar exercises carried out in 2014.

Mr. Adu Boahen stressed that the disposal of buses is guided by technical assessments, inspections, and a board of survey, rejecting claims that buses were sold cheaply under his watch.

He clarified that buses disposed of between 2022 and 2024 were sold at prices ranging from GH¢3,000 to GH¢40,000, generating about GH¢3.2 million from the sale of 312 buses.

His comments come in response to allegations by the Deputy Managing Director of MMTL, Haroun Apaw Wiredu, who claimed that 313 buses were sold barely two months before the 2020 elections, some for as low as GH¢2,500, describing the process as a criminal scheme.

Mr. Adu Boahen dismissed the allegations, maintaining that all disposals were lawful and properly documented.

“We have a technical department, including a survey board, involved in the cannibalisation and inspection process, and an evaluation report is available. It is not true that we sold the buses for GH¢2,500 each, nor is it accurate that we generated GH¢2.5 million from those sales. According to the report from the disposal committee, we generated GH¢3.2 million from the sale of the 312 buses. When we took over, the company was in disarray, but it improved significantly after we acquired Daewoo buses,” he said.

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Speaking on Asempa FM’s Ekosii Sen show, Mr. Adu Boahen said that when he took over management in 2018, Metro Mass was in crisis, recording an annual loss of about GH¢43 million.

He explained that the situation improved significantly after the introduction of Daewoo and DAF buses, which helped stabilize operations. Losses were reduced to about GH¢18 million before the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted services, causing losses to rise again.

“Before I left office, the company had moved from loss to profit. In 2024, we recorded about GH¢12 million in profit,” he said.

Mr. Adu Boahen attributed Metro Mass’ previous challenges largely to revenue leakages, alleging that some staff failed to account for fares collected. He noted that the introduction of an IT-based revenue system helped curb corruption and improve financial performance.

His comments come amid allegations by the Deputy Managing Director of MMTL, Haroun Apaw Wiredu, who claimed that 313 buses were sold as unserviceable shortly before the 2020 general elections, with some reportedly sold for as low as GH¢2,500. Mr. Wiredu described the process as a criminal scheme involving the deliberate cannibalisation of buses.

Mr. Adu Boahen, however, maintained that he inherited a fleet plagued by aged and faulty buses and insisted that the management decisions taken during his tenure were aimed at reviving the company and restoring its financial health.

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