By Bill W. Cooper
The Managing Director of the National Transit Authority (NTA), Edmund Forh, is said to be operating from a garage within the Authority’s premises since his appointment.
Forh who was appointed by President Joseph Boakai has since decried the deplorable and unfavorable working condition of the entity that he inherited from his predecessor, Habie MaCauley.
Forh, who took over the NTA just a few months ago, was vocal before members of the House of Representatives about the state of the facility which he claims was left in a state of disrepair by his predecessor.
Appearing before that august body to give update on restoring the NTA buses on the street, Director Forh expressed frustration over the condition of the Authority; something which now forced him to work from the facility garage since his appointment.
Forh also disclosed that his deputy is also working from the back of the garage because of the burning of facility during the past administration thus, accusing his predecessor of leaving the NTA in a deplorable condition which makes it difficult to operate.
According to him, he met nine buses and only seven are in manageable condition and emphasized the need to ensure the servicing of the buses adding, “It is truly disheartening to see the state of the NTA facility. The lack of maintenance and neglect of the facility is appalling.”
He further accused his predecessor of failing to properly maintain the NTA facility including donated buses and other belongings, asserting, “It is clear that the previous administration did not prioritize the upkeep of the NTA facility at all.”
“And this is something that has had a negative impact on the morale of the staff and the efficiency of our operations. In this light, we are pleading for your support to ensure that we restore the entity to its normal state,” the NTA’s MD noted.
Commenting on his working at the NTA, Director Forh revealed that since taking over as Director of the entity, he has been working tirelessly to address the issues plaguing the facility including initiating a comprehensive maintenance plan to restore the NTA buses and offices among others.
He explained that in addition to addressing the physical state of the facility, he along with his team has also been focusing on improving the working conditions for the staff at the NTA, ensuring a more proper and conducive working environment for good service delivery.
He added that they have also implemented series of new policies to ensure that the staff have access to a safe and comfortable working environment, as well as providing training and support to help them excel in their respective roles.
Forh added that despite the challenges, he remains optimistic about the future of the NTA, expressing his commitment to transforming the NTA into a world-class transit authority that provides reliable and efficient services for Liberians.
