Readers' Letter: An experience with the all new STC intercity buses

AmeyawDebrah.com reader, Katakyie Afrifa, writes about his recent experience with the STC intercity coaches. He describes it as the new Ghana Airways.  Throughout my adult life all my travels to Accra by road had been via VIP brand of buses. This has gone on for a long time that it had now become almost by default for many using their coaches for their travels. To the extent that when one wants a comfortable and safe bus to Accra It was VIP buses and nothing else; not saying they give 100% safety. Everybody who has ever boarded these buses from Accra to Kumasi or Vice Versa will agree with me that during peak periods one has to endure the stress of queuing for hours, sometimes even being tempted to pay some sort of ransom, illegally to these ticket bearers, just to get a bus when you are in dire need of a bus; because perhaps your appointment time is almost due and further delay in Kumasi or Accra would mean nothing but trouble for you because you have to get the Accra the earliest time possible. This is simply because there are no better option, unless flying by Air, when you want to travel and don’t want to compromise on your safety and comfort. Not long ago, I heard and read about the good tidings and better services about the newly revamped and improved and managed State Transport cooperation (STC) and the awesome experience patrons of their bus get when they choose them So on my way to just ended Ghana Youth Choirs Chorale festival and Awards 2017 held at the College of physicians and Surgeons, Accra, I decided to give it a try; to see and experience for myself if all that I have been hearing and reading about their new services were indeed true. Together with my younger brother Eugene, we went to their bus terminal situated at Adum opposite Aseda house, Kumasi to take a bus. Upon reaching there we saw just a few people there, obviously they had also come get a bus to travel to Accra. At first glance, I asked myself “Did we come to the right place? Or we didn’t get the directions right?” Because it was so unlike the VIP terminal at Asafo where upon getting there you see a congregation of all sort of people with all sort of noise here and there. Then serene atmosphere and Less people at this new place got me second guessing if we were at the right place .It was Malta Guinness and Alvaro vendor who confirmed to us that we were at the right place and showed us where they tickets were sold. We got to the place and were greeted with beaming and beautiful smiles from some exquisitely dressed ladies sitting behind something like a computer ready to serve us. At this point I wondered if we were at the AirPort. We asked to buy a ticket to Accra and we were told by the ladies that theirs is a bus BOARDING PASS and not a mere ticket and they smiled, making me wanting to buy about four tickets, just for myself. The wit and professionalism with which they served us with was top notch I must say, so unlike the other place. They took my particulars, imputed into their system and put me on the next available bus while they gave me a generated BOARDING PASS with all the necessary information needed for my ride to Accra. After that, I was asked to go to the waiting area in waiting for a bus which was on its way coming. This was synonymous to normal day, STARBOW AIRLINES treatment, and this was supposed to be a bus terminal. Shocking! In about 10mins A big brand new, “tear rubber” Marco-polo Range of Coaches drove majestically into the yard. It was LOVE AT FIRST SIGHT. I checked my boarding pass and it had the same car number as this big bus and I said to myself “what an experience this is going to be”. After some seconds it was announced through the loudspeakers in the yard that all those with tickets bearing the said bus number should make their way to the yard for boarding. We lined up at the door of the bus and everybody was checked before being allowed on the bus. When I entered the bus I was overly impressed! These kind of buses in Ghana and Kumasi? Wow! I sighed I made way to my seat number (10) and just when I was making myself comfortable to sit I saw a notice on the bus the blown me away! To my amazement, there was actually a WIFI HOTSPOT ON THE BUS! Mind blowing! This was my favorite part! And to the glory of God I used it to my utmost best! Praise the Lord! Soon after, we were ready to move. A nicely dressed man came inside the bus and politely asked us to pray before we set off. After that he introduced himself as MR MICHEAL OWUSU and he was going to be our driver for the trip. Right after him a lady dressed in a STC branded uniform, also followed saying she was the bus assistant, made every buckle up his or her seat belt showed us the way to the Toilet if anyone on the bus wanted to; yes there was a toilet for convenience on the bus. She also informed us about the free wifi on the bus as well as spot under our seats for charging of mobile phones and laptop batteries with our cables whiles still on the bus, Amazing! After these procedures, we set off in this new bus, comfortable with heavy cushion seats. Half way through the journey, every passenger was served with a bottle of water. This was an overdose of an awesome treatment on a Kumasi-Accra bus. About 4:30pm we reached Accra. All through the journey what got me so excited aside the remarkable road experience, was the fact that this was a state owned transport company, which actually belonged to the people of Ghana. This made me feel so proud as a Ghanaian. We must all patronize and embrace it wholeheartedly to make it great and strong! I promise to be a number on patron and ambassador of this great Ghanaian pride in showcase to the world “That new African is ready to fight his own battles and show that after all, the black man is capable of managing his own affairs. Nkrumah K. (1957) and even though the national senior football team , The BLACK STARS of Ghana, have succeeded in hurting our pride as a Nation, The STC is poised to keep our heads up again. We may not have GHANA AIRWAYS flying in the Air at the moment, but we can pride ourselves with STATE TRANSPORT COMPANY gallantly trotting on our roads. Indeed STC is the NEW GHANA AIRWAYS.  ]]>