Ghana Revenue Authority Cooperative Credit Union (GRACCU) on Thursday unveiled 150 mini buses it had acquired for distribution to members under its Auto Car Loan Scheme.

The buses are the first of a total of 450 Mini Buses and 200 Saloon vehicles the Union is expecting by the end of September.

JMET Corporation of China, a Trade and Investment Corporation, financed the manufacture of the vehicles for the Union.

Mr Godwin Monyo, GRACCU Union Chairman, said the Auto Loan Scheme was one of the many products designed and introduced by the union to meet the growing needs of members.

He said as part of the agreement, JMET Corporation would support an affordable housing scheme for members of GRACCU when the Auto Loan scheme was successfully executed.

Mr Monyo said the buses would be allocated first to members who have made initial deposits towards the acquisition of the vehicles.

He said CAL Bank had already raised Letters of credit for the payment of the second consignment of 150 buses currently on the high seas while UniBank had also pledged to sponsor the saloon and the remaining buses.

He expressed the hope that the vehicles would not only enhance incomes of beneficiary staff but help contribute to revenue mobilisation.

“This facility will also serve as a welfare package and a motivating factor in protecting national revenue that the GRA is tasked to collect,” he said.

Mr Monyo assured beneficiaries that JMET has a service centre on the Spintex Road to take care of faults and to supply spare parts.

Mr George Blankson, Commissioner-General, Ghana Revenue Authority, said management was committed to supporting such worker initiatives.

He said the acquisition of the buses was a testimony of what proper planning and commitment could achieve.

Mr Blankson asked the beneficiaries to make regular payments to defray the cost of the buses and not to allow management of the buses to interfere with their work.

Ms Rainy Yu, Vice General Manager, Mechanical and Electrical Equipment, said the partnership between JMET and GRACCU would help to further strengthen the relationship between China and Ghana.