Sunyani, March 02, GNA - Twenty-four conductors of Metro Mass Transport Limited in Brong Ahafo have been dismissed for engaging in ticket malpractices.

Major Gabriel Ankama (RTD), the Regional Traffic Manager, told the Ghana News Agency that the dismissed conductors refused to issue receipts for monies collected from passengers.

Some issued used tickets to passengers and others could not account for all monies they collected to the company.

Major Ankama said the conductors were dismissed on "the quiet and the amounts stolen by each ranged from 100,000 cedis to about 300,000 cedis".

Two drivers of the company have also been dismissed for disobeying the company's rules, Major Ankama said.

One of them was found drunk on duty whilst the other gave the bus to a driver who did not belong to the company. He said the company started operations in the region in 2004 with 28 buses and 20 staff and now has a staff of 130, comprising 48 drivers and 82 conductors.

It hopes to extend its services by the end of this year to long distance areas as Kumasi, Yeji and Atebubu. Major Ankama urged passengers to insist on collecting receipts and cautioned passengers to desist from the practice of jumping into the buses without paying since they would not be spared if caught.