Photos: Drivers Curse KMA Boss

Drama unfolded at the Kejetia Bus terminal in Kumasi on Saturday morning when drivers at the Sunyani/Berekum station invoked the spirit of the dreaded Antoa Nyamaa against Samuel Sarpong, the Chief Executive of the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (KMA). The distressed drivers, who ply their trade at the Pavilion K of the terminal, sought the assistance of the sensational river deity to deal ruthlessly with Mr. Samuel Sarpong for imposing five additional driver unions on them. Clad in mourning cloths, red arm bands and head gears, the embittered drivers reported to work in the morning with eggs and a bottle of schnapps to undertake their mission. In an interview with Daily Guide, the spokesperson for the infuriated drivers, said they decided to seek the assistance of the powerful river god following Mr Sarpong�s decision to impose five driver unions on them. Daniel Twumasi, organizer of the positive transport union, noted that the KMA boss ignored their petition against the operation of five driver unions. He explained that they kicked against the coming on board of the five driver unions because the available space had been occupied by 12 driver unions. The organizer indicated that they particularly opposed Mr Sarpong�s action because commuters, who patronize their services, go through a hell due to the congestion at the terminal. Mr. Twumasi contended that the congestion was due to Mr. Sarpong�s decision to allocate land in the terminal for the construction of stores. He emphasized that because the space at the terminal had been used for the construction of stores, drivers find it extremely difficult to exit from the terminal. The organizer said at times drivers spend more than an hour to exit the terminal to join the main road, a development which discomfort commuters. Mr Twumasi indicated that the congestion at the terminal worsened when Mr Sarpong, upon assumption of office, evicted them from a place they were previously using. Daily Guide has gathered that the stores, which have been built at a reserved sanitary area by Mr Sarpong, are being sold to people for GH�60,000 and above depending on the size of the store. The organizer stated that they took that decision because the former Ashanti regional boss of the Serious Fraud Office (SFO) used the police to intimidate them. According to them, any time they prevent the five driver unions at the terminal from working at the terminal, the KMA boss orders the police to intimidate them.