…Management, staff at war over fraudulent deals
Hon. Felix Owusu Agyapong, Minister of Parliamentary Affairs responsible for Transportation IT IS a tug of war between the management of the Metro Mass Transport (MMT) and its employees in Sunyani, where allegations of corruption against both sides are said to have reached the highest peak at the Brong Ahafo branch of the transport organization. The employees, who in October 25, 2006 threatened to embark upon a sit-down strike over what they described as gross disrespect, dishonesty and inhumane behaviour towards them by the Regional Traffic Control Manager, Major (Rtd) Gabriel Ankomah, alleged that Major Ankomah had embezzled millions of cedis and therefore called on anti corruption institutions like the Serious Fraud Office (SFO) to investigate the Regional Traffic Control Manager.
The workers hinted The Chronicle that Major Ankomah had turned the Kufuor initiative transport organization into a gold mine, enriching himself through hiring of buses belonging to the MMT.
On his part, Major Ankomah told The Chronicle that accusations leveled against him were full of lies, adding that because of stringent measures he took against some of the staff, basically some drivers and conductors that was why they bent in getting his reputation foiled.
According to Major Ankomah, who is yet to assume his new position at the Inspectorate division of MMT in Accra, said he as a Manager, he does not handle cash, revealing all monies go to the Cashier and whenever he needed money, he signed a voucher for the amount needed.
The workers reported that the Regional Traffic Control Manager had embezzled funds accrued from hiring of buses by some educational institutions, volunteering organizations and others amounting to several millions of cedis or thousands of Ghana new currencies.
Some of the institutions mentioned were: Nana Oppong International School at Yamfo near Sunyani, engagement of a bus by Ghana Red Cross Society to Kintampo.
On Nana Oppong Int. School hiring, The Chronicle was hinted that about ¢ 2.5 million or GH¢ 250 was accrued monthly, but Major Ankomah, as disclosed only paid ¢ 9 million or GH¢900 been accumulated figure for ten months, instead of ¢ 25 million or GH ¢25,000
The employees hinted this paper that on May 25, last year, a bus with registration number GE 9506 W was hired by the Ghana Red Cross Society from Sunyani to Kintampo at an amount of ¢3.305 million or GH¢ 303.5, and no waybill was issued to cover the trip of the Red Cross.
According to information made available to The Chronicle, a waybill covering only Sunyani to Bechem and back to Sunyani was issued to cover the normal loading of the said bus, been the first trip of the bus before en route to Kintampo.
The staff also stated that apart from these, other hiring such as funeral services and Techiman to Chiraa amounting to ¢ 500,000 or GH ¢ 50 were not properly accounted for.
They explained that the Techiman-Chiraa hiring for instance, a total of GH ¢50 was charged, which according to them, contradicts the lay down charges of ¢ 50,000 or GH ¢ 5 per kilometer. Chiraa to Techiman is about 42 kilometers, meaning the charges by the calculations of the employees supposed to be ¢2.1 million or GH¢210, adding that following this charges they as workers suspected a foul play by the Traffic Control Manager.
Major Ankomah in an interview with The Chronicle denied all the allegations, saying, “Because I am taking some stringent measures to ensure the survival of the company that was why they are trying to tarnish my reputation”.
Major Ankomah exhibiting whole range of ticket racketeering and other malpractices by the conductors and some drivers said about 35 conductors and two drivers were fired to that effect.
The intended demonstration that was to be embarked last year, the Regional Coordinating Council headed by Mr. Ignatius Baffour Awuah, the Regional Minister, has since set a committee to investigate the allegations by the employees.
Although, the committee had completed its investigation and submitted the report to the RCC, up to date it has not come, but the Traffic Control Manager disclosed that part of the report recommended that he the retired Major be surcharged to pay for files of employees he made them to buy for keeping of their records.
