KMA Exposed In Full Circle Over Fake Tickets To Hawkers

Kojo Bonsu

Following the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly's termination of its management contract with Freko FD., Company Limited, interesting revelations have begun emerging.

One such revelation, Today's findings uncovered, is how some officials of KMA planned to profit from the Kejetia Bus Terminal through the issuing of fake tickets to unsuspecting hawkers and drivers who ply their trade at the place.

A few days after the KMA took over the management of the terminal, it has emerged that some officials of KMA have been issuing to hawkers fake tickets.

And according to our investigations, this is to allow some big guns at KMA profit.

The fake tickets revelation was corroborated by hawkers at the terminal who showed both the original and the fake tickets to our Ashanti Regional Chief Bureau, James Appiakorang Jr.

And to ensure that hat the top guns at KMA benefit enormously, Today found out that the original tickets which were printed by the Accountant-General's Department at the cost of GHC6 million have been withdrawn from the system.

ORIGINAL AND FAKEBut though those behind the fake tickets cleverly imitated the original ticket, the differences between the two have begun to show.

This development has raised eye brows over why KMA would print new tickets bearing Freko's name and logo.

The first striking difference between the two tickets is the size. Today found out that whilst the original ticket from the Account General's Department is big in size, the one allegedly printed by the KMA is relatively small.

Additionally while the original ticket has a seven-digit serial number, the fake ticket has eight digits.

What is more, the font size used for the inscription 'KMA HAWKERS TICKET CHARGE' on the original ticket is 16 but the one used on the fake ticket is 14.

The paper further discovered that the smaller writings used as background for the original ticket is 'KMA Ticket' but that of the fake ticket read: 'KMA hawkers service charge'.

Today also established that the columns in the background smaller writings were equal on the original ticket, but those on the fake ones were unequal and roughly arranged.

Meanwhile sources close to the Assembly told this paper that the General Assembly knew nothing about this development, insisting that it was a calculated move by some top officials of KMA to 'loot and share' the proceeds from the fake hawkers' tickets.

Before the contract was terminated, Freko FD., Company Limited was making about GHC4,000 daily out of hawkers' tickets on the side of the terminal which the company managed, while the other side which was forcefully taken by a unilateral decision by the former Mayor, Samuel Sarpong, made about GHC2,000.

Each ticket, per Parliament's approval is GHC2.00.

However, since Mr. Kojo Bonsu took over as Mayor of Kumasi, itemised charges have been introduced for hawkers; a situation which has seen hawkers being charged GHC4.00, which is twice the amount Freko was charging.

What they do, per our investigations, is that if, for instance, you are a Space-to-Space [ mobile call center] operator and sells toffees and chewing gums in addition, you will have to take different tickets for these items.

Also, if, for instance, you sell bathroom sandals and polythene bags, you will be given different tickets for each of them while Freko was taking just GHC2.00 per head, Today gathered.

Therefore going by the figures above it meant that those behind the fake tickets were raking about GHC12,000 daily on hawkers' tickets alone.

It also meant that they were making about GHC60,000 from hawkers through the sale of fake tickets from Monday to Friday.

Then comes revenues accrued from the other sectors of the terminal which are the vehicles (both commercial and private), urinals, toilets and head porters.

Meanwhile, as of the time of going to press yesterday, the Public Relations Officer of KMA had not responded to a text message sent to him by this reporter wanting to have his outfit's reaction on this matter.

This is what our reporter sent to him via text: “I wanted to get your views on some findings i have made on the Kejetia terminal.”

Samples Of The Fake Tickets