Kma boss is hot again!! …lawyers chase him over Ghs 17,440 sofoline debt crisis

THE PRESS RADIO has gathered that lawyers (Nana Obiri Yeboah & Associates) for Sofoline Drivers Union Association have served the Chief Executive Officer for Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (KMA) Mr Osei Assibey a letter of reminder requesting for the immediate payment of an outstanding debt of GH 17,440 by the latter to the association.

The Mayor for the assembly, coordinating Director and Metropolitan Finance Officer (MFO) according our sources were  served by solicitors for the association on the 8th of January 2019.

Prior to that, executives of Sofoline Drivers Union Association had on three occasions sent written reminders  to authorities of the assembly for the release of money to clear the debt but hitherto, none according to our credible checks  has been responded to.

As the situation stands now and unlike the previous reminders, it is likely that any failure on the part of KMA Boss to respond to the letter served him by solicitors of the association after the expiration of 21 days grace period per our sources will compel the latter to drag them to court to seek redress in line with the local government and Metropolitan Assembly Law.

An unedited extract of the letter dated 2nd January 2019 and signed by Lawyer Nana Obiri Yeboah, counsel to the association reads;

“… *SUBJECT MATTER: INDEBTEDNESS TO SOFOLINE DRIVERS UNION ASSOCIATION BY THE KUMASI METROPOLITAN ASSEMBLY IN THE SUM OF SEVENTEEN THOUSAND, FOUR HUNDRED AND FORTY GHANA CEDIS (17,440.00).*

We are the solicitors for the SOFOLINE DRIVERS UNION ASSOCIATION. As could be gleaned from the attached documents; our clients are by this letter requesting for the immediate payment of an outstanding sum seventeen thousand, four hundred and forty (Ghs 17,440).

TREAT THIS LETTER AS SUFFICIENT NOTICE.

We hope ; we can count on your cooperation…”

Checks done by THE PRESS RADIO at the office of the association reveals that the accumulated period of the debt (GH 17,440.00) stretches from 1st December 2017 to 14th April 2018 and has until now remained outstanding due to the Assembly’s failure to release funds to Executives of Sofoline Union Drivers Association to absorb the debt.

*BACKGROUND*

Before commercial drivers at the terminal commenced operations at the prominent Sofoline lorry terminal, agreement was settled upon between Executives of the Union and authorities of the assembly that the latter will make payment of all expenses related to workforce within the terminal.

Speaking to the Chairman for the Union Mr. Albert K Boamah in an exclusive chart, he made it clear that Executives of the Union however decided to make payment of the expenses and later claim the money  from KMA authorities to absorb the debt which was agreed by the latter  “but surprisingly the assembly has until now deliberately failed to release the money to us”. ” We were even expecting that KMA Boss plus his subordinates in their own wisdom will come to us, express remorse and make payment in installment but these authorities have not done any of these not even a phone call” he added.

*BREAKDOWN ON GH 17,440.00 DEBT*

*December 2017*

1. Sweepers- GH 1,200

2. Garden boy- GH 200

3. Night watchmen – 900

4. Road side guards- GH 2,400

 

5. Waste dumping- GH 400

 

Total- GH 5,100

 

*January 2018*

1. Sweepers- GH 1,200

 

2. Garden boy- GH 200

 

3. Night watchmen – GH 900

 

4. Road side guards- GH 2,400

 

Waste dumping – GH 400

 

Total 5,100

 

*March 2018*

 

1. Sweepers- GH 1,200

 

2. Garden boy- GH 200

 

3. Night watchmen-GH 900

 

4. Road side guards- GH 2,400

 

5. Waste dumping-GH 400

among others.

 

 

*COLLECTION OF TOLLS BY KMA*

Chairman Boamah in his statement expressed provocations over why the assembly has been collecting tolls running into millions of old Ghana cedis from the terminal but have refused to pay the debt.

 

*ANOTHER GH 38,465.00 DEBT*

Besides this huge debt(GH 17,440.00) in question, the assembly according to the Chairman Boamah  is again owing Sofoline Drivers Union Association GH 38,465.00.

This is a cost the union incurred on contract awarded them by the assembly for the clearance of a  land they previously occupied before their relocation to the current terminal  and the erection  of structure at the Sofoline lorry terminal.

Chairman Boamah vowed that nothing will restrain them from staging legal battle against authorities of KMA for the payment of the money.

 

By Enock Akonnor