GH 17,400.00 debt scandal rocks KMA authorities; sofoline drivers settle on court action
Authorities of Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (KMA) under the leadership of Hon Osei Assibey Bonsu may soon be dragged to court consequent to their failure to clear a debt of GH 17,440.0.
The assembly according to credible intelligence gathered by THE PRESS RADIO is highly indebted to Sofoline Drivers Union Association at the tune of GH17,440.00 representing expenses on labour force within the terminal.
The debt (GH 17,440.00) according to our findings stretches from 1st December 2017 to 14th April 2018 and has hitherto 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 is to make payment of all expenses on every workforce related to the terminal and not from the coffers of Sofoline Drivers Union Association.
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
Sweepers- GH 1,200
Garden boy- GH 200
Night watchmen – 900
Road side guards- GH 2,400
Waste dumping- GH 400
Total- GH 5,100
January 2018
Sweepers- GH 1,200
Garden boy- GH 200
Night watchmen – GH 900
Road side guards- GH 2,400
Waste dumping – GH 400
Total 5,100
March 2018
Sweepers- GH 1,200
Garden boy- GH 200
Night watchmen-GH 900
Road side guards- GH 2,400
Waste dumping-GH 400
among others.
REMINDERS
Executives of the Union according to the Chairman have on three occasions sent reminders to authorities of the assembly for the payment of the debt but the latter has failed to respond to any.
An unedited extract of one reminder dated 22nd November 2018 reads;
” We Sofoline Union Drivers Association write this letter as a reminder of our earlier submission of the expenses of the workers at the Sofoline terminal. We are still waiting for the funds to absorb these expenses. The total expenses from 1st December 2017 to 14th April 2018 amount to GH 17,440.00…
We are counting on your usual cooperation to help in the smooth operation of the Sofoline lorry terminal”
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.
COURT ACTION
The Union based the above delay posture has give the assembly a grace period of five days to make payment of the debt else they (assembly) will be dragged to court for the necessary legal action.
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.
By Enock Akonnor.
Source; thepressradio.com
