The Ghana National Association of Garages has called on the government to open up the servicing of government vehicles to more auto mechanics, warning that the current monopoly is causing widespread breakdowns and leaving citizens stranded on the roads.
According to the Director of Communications of the Association, Francis Nomo Tetteh, the government has handed the servicing of its vehicles to only one company, a situation he says is “not helping at all.”
He explained that members of the association across the country have the capacity to service government vehicles, noting that many garages already handle old registered buses without major challenges.
“We have offices in different regions and we are able to service vehicles nationwide. The problem is that government has not engaged the private sector to discuss how to properly manage broken-down vehicles to avoid people being stranded,” he said.
Nomo Tetteh said the lack of competition has also created excuses from the sole servicing company, which claims it cannot get spare parts. However, he argued that many local mechanics can import quality and specific parts because they understand the vehicles they work on.
He further alleged that some government buses break down frequently because parts are taken from functioning vehicles to fix broken ones, a practice he described as unacceptable.
“Because of this, within one or two years, all the buses will be spoiled. If government keeps importing more vehicles without changing the system, they will also get spoiled,” he warned.
He added that many ambulances are also broken down or in need of serious servicing, making the situation even more critical.
Francis Nomo Tetteh questioned why the government insists on using only one company when other professions allow referrals.
“If you take your car to a mechanic and he cannot fix it, don’t you take it to another one? Even doctors refer patients when they cannot handle a case,” he said.
The Association is urging the government to collaborate with private garages and introduce competition to improve efficiency, reduce breakdowns, and ensure that public vehicles remain on the road to serve citizens.
