The Managing Director of the Metro Mass Transit Limited (MMT) has been asked to step aside following allegations of procurement breaches.

Bennet Aboagye will remain sidelined pending the report of a five-member investigative committee set up by the Board of the MMT to look into allegations the MD and the Board Chair breached several procurement processes in the purchase of some 300 buses.

Joy News’ Ernest Manu reported that a decision is yet to be taken against the Board Chair, Ahmed Arthur who also stands accused by the workers.

The workers in a petition to the Special Prosecutor raised several issues of corruption against the MD and Ahmed Arthur in the procurement of the vehicles but the management has denied the claims.

The Special Prosecutor is however yet to begin investigations into the allegations.

Even before the investigations will begin, Ernest Manu said a five-member committee has been constituted to investigate the allegations. The committee comprises a representative from the CID, procurement authority, the Transport Ministry.

An official statement is however yet to be released.

But the Corporate communications manager George Krobea has dismissed allegations of fraud and corruption against Mr Aboagye.

 In responding to a petition presented to the Special Prosecutor Martin Amidu, by the workers led by the security coordinator of MMT, Mr Krobea admitted the company is in the process of buying 300 vehicles but was quick to deny that procurement processes were breached.

“Metro Mass has a whole unit that handles every form of procurement. It is true that we are in the process of procuring 300 new buses. With the initial activities that have occurred, there isn’t any breach of a procurement process.

 “If there is anybody in doubt the office is there, the necessary documentation is there,” he stated.

 He said the contract is yet to be signed for the buses to be procured.

The Corporate Communications Manager also accused the security coordinator of blackmailing the MD

 He did not, however, give any evidence to back the accusation.