A journey up north and down south with a VVIP bus
I boarded a VVIP bus from Accra to Tamale and back and wish to share my experience aboard the VVIP buses for the world at large and Ghanaians in particular to read and decide whether they will ever board buses operated by VVIP. Please this is about VVIP and not VIP.
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They claimed that these are air conditioned buses, so the tickets were a bit expensive. A return ticket cost GH¢110. This is about US$50.
We departed Accra about 3.30 p.m. on Saturday, February 22, 2014 for Tamale, half an hour late for no apparent reason. I sat directly behind the driver since I wanted to see what was going on throughout the journey.
I hardly fall asleep aboard a moving vehicle. Having driven buses and heavy goods vehicles (HGVs) in the United Kingdom (UK) for well over 12 years, and getting involved in a single Road Traffic Accident (RTA), I had to be sure that I was entrusting my life in the hands of a professional driver with the requisite qualifications and relevant experience. However, it turned out that the only qualification this driver in question had was how to deafen the ear with the hooting of the horn.
Even in built up areas between the hours of 11 p.m. and 6 a.m. hours, this rascal parading as a driver had no concern for even workers trying to get some sleep.
The overtaking manoeuvres carried out by this driver were near suicide missions, prompting me to shout out ‘Jesus Christ’ on countless occasions. To add ‘ball bearings’ to this ‘suicide bomb’ in order to score a higher casualty rate on explosion, this driver was most of the time while driving using a hand-held mobile device.
There was no question that this ‘mass murderer’ accorded the decent name of a bus driver was speeding. The management of VVIP buses have tacitly disconnected the speedometers in their vehicles. It can, therefore, be safely said that management of VVIP buses indirectly encourages their drivers to speed.
I arrived in Tamale safely by a whisker of luck around 8.30 a.m. on Sunday, February 23, 2014, after spending six hours by the roadside at Prampaso because an overturned overloaded articulated lorry had blocked the N6 in both north and south directions.
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I pre-booked a flight for my return journey to Accra. Unfortunately, due to adverse weather conditions, all flights from Tamale to Accra were cancelled on Saturday, March 1, 2014. Therefore, I had no option than return to Accra by road. All STC bus tickets were sold out, but VVIP tickets were available. I got seat number three, which is located directly behind the driver, just like my journey upward.
Our boarding time was from 3 p.m. with a scheduled departure time of 4 p.m. I boarded the bus at 3.30 p.m. and at 4.20 p.m., it was the same ‘mass murderer’ termed driver who jumped in and sat on the driver’s seat. That really dampened my spirits. I made it clear to him that I would not accept his ‘suicide’ driving skills this time. He had the effrontery to tell me that I should stop shouting ‘Jesus Christ’ whenever I find his driving dangerous.
Our differences got out of hand, and at some point he refused to drive the bus with the excuse that I am a pain in his neck and had questioned his driving capabilities, even though he had six years driving experience.
To compound my woes, a quantity of uncooked black eye beans given to me by a friend dropped out of my bag. It was wrapped in a black polythene bag. I only realised this on Tuesday, March 4, 2014, and called VVIP ‘customer service’ on 0245414456. Having made the complaint regarding my lost beans, I was expecting a call back as to whether my lost package was found.
After two hours without any phone call from VVIP, I called the above number back several times without anyone picking my call. I changed the number and called and it was answered on the first ring. As soon as I started to enquire from this guy as to how far he had dealt with my complaint regarding my lost black eye beans, he cut the line.
In fact, this is one of the worst transport operators I have ever encountered in my life.
Alhassan Bawah
P. O. Box 22
Langbinsi/Gambaga
N/R