Metro Mass Transit Limited is haggling with the opposition National Democratic Congress(NDC) over the cost of a bus service it provided the party during the 2016 general elections.
The company’s PRO Bernice Akologo told Adom FM Thursday, it has handed over the matter to a private legal firm after the NDC rejected a pro forma invoice placing the cost at GH¢1.9m.
But the cost is not the only source of the dispute. The nature of the service and the number of buses released between November to December is also a subject of controversy.
Explaining the genesis of the misunderstanding, the MMT PRO explained to Adom FM presenter ‘Captain Smart’, the NDC engaged the company’s service ‘over the phone’ in the run-up to the elections.
It was to transport party supporters to constituencies to vote and also to political rallies including one of the largest movement of party supporters to fill the 40-000 seater Accra Sports stadium.
According to her, the party, then in government, paid a deposit for the service.
With the elections over and the party set to exist government, the company met the NDC National Organiser Kofi Adams in December and submitted an invoice.
Metro Mass said it gave the NDC a 20% discount for using the buses between November 30 and December 9, 2016. The discount beats down the cost to GH¢1.921,896.99 from GH¢2.402,371.24 for the 506 buses.
She said the company arrived at this number of buses after working with party officers across the country to determine how many buses were needed at any time during the service period.
But in a reaction on Asempa FM later in the day, Kofi Adams emphasised that the NDC did not hire transportation service from the MMT.
It was on a ‘fare basis’, he said explaining the service is the same as boarding a bus at a station.
“They just dropped the [supporters] and then came back…. If it was hiring, we hire you to take the people and bring them back” he said.
Based on his understanding of the service, Kofi Adams said he raised questions about the invoice and asked for details.
“You can’t just say you provided 11 buses to Wa. What was the travel route of the buses?”
Kofi Adams said the party paid GH¢410,000 ‘for the mean time’ pending a final determination over the cost.
Mr. Adams who was the National Campaign Coordinator said once the party is given better particulars of the service, the NDC would pay the difference or receive a re-imbursement if need be.
Following that December meeting, “they never came back with any details” Kofi Adams said, a claim which was confirmed by the MMT PRO.
In an unexpected move, Kofi Adams said the MMT wrote a demand notice to the party last April insisting on the payment of the debt.
He expressed surprise that the matter should pop up in the media while the party is expecting the company to get back to them.
Kofi Adams said the party has collated information about the number of buses used during the service period. It is not 506 as stated by the MMT.
The number of buses is important in determining the total cost.