Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, running mate of the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) has taken swipe at the government for failing to prosecute officials involved in the GHC3.6 bus branding scandal.

The project which was undertaken by Smarttys Management and Production Limited through the Ministry of Transport saw the nation lose GHC3.6 million to rebrand 116 Metro Mass Transit buses.

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The revelation of the cost of the buses in the 2015 Annual Report on the Petroleum Revenues Fund has led to public debate with Parliament also asking for further answers on what led to the high cost resulting in the resignation of the Minister of Transport, Ms Dzifa Attivor, in December 2015.

It emerged that a pro-forma invoice dated 17th July 2015, and signed by the Accounts Officer of Smarttys Management and Productions and copied to the Ministry of Transport, put the total cost of branding for each bus at Ghc30,420.00.

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Speaking on the bus branding saga on Accra-based Joy FM on Wednesday, March 2, 2016, Dr Bawumia said the deal "stinks".

He said the Smarttys deal was awarded and executed even before procurement was carried out, stating that "It does not make sense."

He said the money from the petroleum fund was used for the branding exercise and that although the sector minister resigned, other people must be dealt with.

More here: Smarttys ordered to refund GH¢1.9 million

According to him, the excess money paid to Smartyys could have been used to provide teaching and learning materials for deprived schools in the country.