The opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) has charged the government to give all presidential candidates equal playing field by rebranding the Metro Mass Transit (MMT) buses with their images.

According to the campaign manager of the NPP, Peter Mac Manu, having only the image of President John Mahama, who is a presidential candidate, on the buses gives him an undue advantage over the other aspirants ahead of the November 2016 polls.

The buses have pictures of Ghana's former Heads of State in a black and white with President Mahama’s picture in full-color. 

Speaking to Joy News’ Afreh Nuamah, Mr. Manu said it is important for the image of the President to be taken off those buses.

However, he said it is proper for the image of President Mahama be placed alongside that of the other presidential candidates on the buses after the Electoral Commission (EC) has accepted their nominations for the November polls.

Reacting to the issue on Joy News, National Organizer of the governing National Democratic Congress (NDC), Kofi Adams said: “It is difficult for me to appreciate this proposal [by NPP]”.

“How can we use state resources to advertise presidential candidates?” he asked adding President Mahama’s image is on the bus because he is the current Head of State and not a presidential candidate of the NDC.

President Mahama’s name on the bus reads, “His Excellency President John Mahama”, he said adding “he has the merit that will come with it and the demerit that will come with it”.

On his part, Policy Adviser for the Progressive People’s Party (PPP), Kofi Siaw disagreed with the NPP position on rebranding the buses with the image of all presidential candidates.

“The idea should be that we [politicians] should not be seen as taking advantage of state properties”, he said.

The branding of the buses with the image of President Mahama is an abuse of incumbency, he said adding “The solution is not for all candidates to join something that is wrong”.

The rebranding of the 116 MMT buses has generated a lot of debate in the country following the revelation that the company which did the branding, Smarttys Management and Production Company overpriced the government.

According to the proforma invoice dated July 17, 2015, and signed by the accounts officer of Smarttys which was copied to the Ministry of Transport, government paid almost ȼ31,000 for each bus. In total, branding cost ȼ3.6 million.

Incensed by the news, the Chief of Staff, Julius Debrah asked the Attorney-General, Marietta Brew Appiah-Oppong to recover the amount of ȼ1.9million which was discovered to be in excess. The figure was renegotiated to ȼ1.5million which according to the government has been paid by Smarttys Management Company.