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Five out of 10 reported missing buses belonging to Metro Mass Transit Limited (MMTL) have been found. The whereabouts of the remaining five are yet to be established. Speaking in an interview on PEACE FM morning show 'Kokrokoo', Mr Dela Kumah, a member of the committee set up to investigate the towed buses from MMTL depot indicated that two of the retrieved buses are in a police station and three towed to various depots of MMTL. "we saw two at Mamponteng, and they have been taken to Mamponteng police station. One was also found in Tamale around UDS and the rest in Kumasi" he said. He also disclosed that after further investigations, the committee found out that the Deputy Managing Director, John Awuku gave the order for the buses to be towed; an action which is against laid down rules. According to company policy, buses which are auctioned must be cut into pieces before they are transported. However, the Deputy MD allegedly ordered for the buses in Kumasi to be towed without being cut. Mr Dela Kumah further indicated that the Deputy MD has been served with a letter to explain why he ordered for the buses to be towed. However in a quick rebuttal on the same platform, John Awuku denied giving out a directive for the buses to be towed. �How can I be in Accra and order for buses to be towed in Kumasi? They don�t have any shred of evidence that I gave the directive. I never gave such directive. They are throwing dust into the eyes of Ghanaians. It is a lie that Metro Mass Buses are lost. If they have been auctioned to people they no longer belong to us�we have sold them and we have collected the money and so why are they saying the buses are missing?� he stated Below are some findings of the Committee reported by the Finder newspaper Kumasi investigations Investigations revealed that three buses, with fleet numbers 2634, 2700 and 2706, were cut into pieces within the premises as required by the company�s policy, the report noted. The report said the remaining three buses, with fleet numbers 2028, 2042 and 2085, were towed out of the premises contrary to the company�s policy of disposal, allegedly under the instructions of the Deputy Managing Director. �A bus with fleet number 2074 was mysteriously replaced for another bus with fleet number 2028, which was not meant for disposal. �The deal was confirmed by Mr Stephen A. Abukari, Depot Manager, Kumasi, corroborated by Nana Tawiah Manu Assistant Workshop Manager, Kumasi. �Mr Abukari went further to state that one of the buses, with fleet number 2028, did not have a rear axle, but the Deputy Managing Director allegedly directed that a rear axle part should be fitted to the bus to enable them move it out of the depot. �He also added that the Deputy Managing Director allegedly again requested for gear box for the bus, but it was not readily available,� the report revealed. Tamale investigations According to the report, the Tamale Depot Manager claimed to lack the company�s guidelines for disposal of buses, so the disposal of the nine buses was done whimsically and lacked one vital policy accentuation: that is, �the buses should be cut into pieces before they are allowed to leave Metro Mass Transit Limited premises.� �It was made clear to the committee that four of the nine buses were each cut into four equal parts and their chassis dismantled and carried out of the yard. �Therefore, five buses were alleged not to have gone through the recommended guidelines. �Skones Security, which guards the depot, could not provide any document relating to the towed buses,� the report stated. It noted that the committee found one of the buses, with fleet number 2008, parked at Datoyili, near the University of Development Studies campus, in its original form, with the other one, with fleet number 2001, located at Kumasi Suame Magazine, also in its original form. According to the buyer, though he was instructed by the auctioneer to cut them into pieces, he managed to send those two buses out of the company�s yard. The committee asked for the Datoyili one to be towed to the Tamale Metro Mass Transit Limited�s yard while the Kumasi Suame Magazine one was also towed to Kumasi Metro Mass Transit Limited�s Yard. Bolgatanga investigations One bus, with fleet number 2045, is alleged to have qualified for disposal at Bolgatanga, but even though it is alleged to have been disposed of, the committee still found the bus standing in the yard, contrary to the guidelines for disposal, which stipulated removal out of the Metro Mass Transit Limited Yard within one week of purchase. Wa investigations Two buses, with fleet numbers 2050 and 2072, were to be disposed of here, but instead of the process of cutting them into pieces done in the Metro Mass Transit Limited�s Yard, the Depot Manager allowed them to be towed out to a nearby workshop. Independent sources aided by pictures taken by the Local Management confirmed the fact that they were really cut into pieces. The buses were moved from MMT�s premises on March 6, 2014 but were cut into pieces on December 4, 2014. Takoradi investigations Three buses, with fleet numbers 2035, 2036 and 2020, were to be disposed of here. Two buses, with fleet numbers 2035 and 2036, were initially cut into pieces in the yard and the third bus, with fleet number 2020, was also cut into pieces later. Accra investigations In the case of Accra, all the seven buses - with fleet numbers 2002, 2057, 2061, 2062, 2515, 2027 and 2584 - were cut into pieces in the yard and disposed. Recommendations The committee recommends that the policy relating to disposal of buses should be copied to all the depots to enable them acquaint themselves with the procedure. All stakeholders involved in the disposal of buses should be present at any venue and company yard before actual disposal processes are completed. In the future, any more disposal of the company�s buses should ensure value for money. In view of the fact that the Deputy Managing Director has been cited in this matter, he may be contacted for his response. Following the allegation made by the MMT Unions on the towing of some MMT buses from some selected depot premises without following due processes, a committee was set up to investigate the matter. The committee visited Kumasi, Tamale, Bolgatanga, Wa, Takoradi and Accra and held meetings with the Local Management, Senior and Junior Staff Union Executives on the issue. On December 17, 2013, two Licensed Auctioneers - Godsway Mart Company and Big Alhassan Mart Company - were selected by the company to dispose of 28 unserviceable buses throughout the country. Eight buses were allocated to Godsway Mart Company Ltd: six in Accra and two Takoradi. The rest were given to Big Alhassan Mart Ltd. After the auctioning exercise, the Staff Unions of MMT (Senior and Junior) on October 20 and 29, 2014 wrote a petition to management alleging that 16 of the buses were towed out in whole from the Kumasi, Tamale and Wa depots with the intention of repairing them, contrary to MMT Fleet Replacement Policy. It was based on the petition that the Managing Director set up a five-member committee to investigate the matter. The members include Mr Stephen Yeboah, Chairman; Mr Simon Quaye, Committee Secretary; Mr Isaac Kwesi Oware, Member; Mr Delali Kumah, Member (Senior Staff Union); Mr Joseph Ahinkrah Member (Junior Staff Union). Committee Findings on Auction by Godsway Mart Godsway Mart Company auctioned all eight buses allocated to him in Accra and Takoradi in accordance with laid down policies and procedures. Buyers of the buses were made to cut them into pieces at MMT premises before they were taken away. Committee Findings on Auction by Big Alhassan Mart The auctioneer did not follow the process as expected, and thereby defied due diligence in his duty. Findings at some selected depots (Tamale, Bolgatanga and Wa) The Depot Managers in Tamale, Bolgatanga and Wa claimed ignorance of the policy relating to the disposal of buses from the Head Office for the simple reason that it was their first time of dealing with disposal of buses.