Angry drivers hit Kumasi streets

A group calling itself “Concerned Drivers Association of Kumasi” on Tuesday staged a six- hour street demonstration to register their displeasure at their relocation from the Kejetia bus terminal.

The group dressed in red and black marched through the principal streets of Kumasi and later presented their petition addressed to President John Dramani Mahama, to Mr Peter Anarfi-Mensah, Ashanti Regional Minister.

The petition appealed to the President to prevail on Mr Kojo Bonsu, the city’s Metropolitan Chief Executive (MCEs), to rescind the decision to move them from the lorry station and expressed misgivings about the President’s approval of the Kejetia project.

The demonstrators who alleged that the decision for the project is Mr Bonsu’s own creation, meant to dislodge them from the lorry terminal and destroy their businesses, argued that the President in his latest State of the Nations address only mentioned the reconstruction of the Kumasi Central Market.

The petition said without the President’s allusion to the Kejetia project, “Mr Bonsu has forcefully added the reconstruction of the terminal with 15,000 stores”.

The irate drivers carried placards some of which read “Kejetia was there before Kojo Bonsu”, “KMA think twice,”, and ‘President Advice Kojo Bonsu’.

Mr Ofori Tawiah, Organiser of the Association, told the Ghana News Agency that the new site for relocation – “Race Course” is overgrown with weeds and is not habitable for business.

Additionally, the area is a known hide-out for hardened criminals besides its infestation with snakes and other dangerous reptiles.

The drivers said they are skeptical about the MCEs promise to return them to Kejetia after the completion of the project.

Mr Ockuma Nyame, Public Relations Officer of the KMA, said the Association is not recognised by the KMA.

He said the Assembly has prepared four temporary sites including Adehyeman, Afia Kobi, Bantama and Race Course for the relocation of divers.

Mr Nyame said the KMA has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with 21 out of the 24 recognised driver unions at the Kejetia bus terminal.

“We have toured the sites with the leadership of the unions and they have agreed to move to the locations on a set date,” Mr Ockuma added.

He said the Assembly acting on concerns raised by the leadership of the unions have made provisions for a police post, electricity, water and sanitation facilities to the temporary sites.