STC abandoned me in an unknown village
In search of safety and security, I chose to travel from Wa to Accra on an STC bus.
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The bus's registration number was GE8122-16, and the driver's name was Emmanuel Bryant Augustt. My receipt number was R76B5D189571 and I occupied seat number 44.
The bus departed from Wa on August 21, 2024, at exactly 5:00 pm, with the expectation of reaching Accra in approximately 14 hours.
However, the bus developed a mechanical problem about five hours into the journey, forcing us to stop at Sawla around 10:00 p.m. We were stranded there until 3:15 a.m. when the bus was finally repaired with the help of a mechanic from a nearby village.
Although the bus continued at a slow pace, we managed to reach Kumasi around 12:30 pm. Our spirits lifted upon arriving at the STC Terminal in Kumasi, thinking we would be transferred to a different bus for the rest of the journey to Accra.
However, I became concerned when we were instructed to board the same bus again. I tried to reassure myself that the issue had been resolved.
The bus made another stop at Linda Dor, which is typical for such trips, between 6:30 pm and 7:00 pm. Unfortunately, at 9:15 pm on August 22, 2024, the bus broke down again at a village whose name I do not know.
The driver waited patiently for us to disembark, then closed everything up and disappeared, along with the policemen who were on board. If it weren't for a good Samaritan, I would not have known how to continue my journey, as this was my first time travelling alone to Accra.
My concerns are as follows: Why was the bus not replaced after the initial breakdown? Does the STC slogan exclude the emotional and mental well-being of its passengers?
Is it acceptable to leave passengers to their fate in the middle of a journey when a vehicle breaks down? Furthermore, when a bus experiences significant delays, what measures does the company have in place to address the needs of the passengers, such as providing food and water, and covering other potential expenses?
Elizabeth Bambori.
E-mail: elizabethbambori19@gmail.com.