The Managing Director of Freko Limited, has dismissed allegations of inefficiencies in collecting tolls and managaing traffic at the Kejetia Transport Terminal in Kumasi. Freda Darko described the media reports as an orchestrated attempt to dent the image of the company. She told journalists that contrary to those allegations, toll collection at the terminal had improved significantly since her company took the job. Madam Darko pointed accusing fingers at officials of the Obuasi-Kejetia Branch of the Ghana Private Road Transport Union (GPRTU) and the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (KMA) for the vehicular congestion at both the entry and exit points of the terminal. “If there is any problem about traffic congestion, it is because of the Obuasi Branch Chairman of the GPRTU at Kejetia, Mr. Afriyie, who is currently putting up structures at the entry and exit points of the terminal. There is evidence that the same Mr. Afriyie is struggling with management to put up another structure along the only way septic tanks would take to get access to the soak-away.” “As I speak now, the Santase tro-tro station and its environs, which has the largest number of vehicles, has no proper parking place, yet more structures are springing up. I am not against the putting up of the structures, some of which are on-going, but my worry is the location of the structures”, she said. It was recently published in a section of the media that the KMA boss, Samuel Sarpong, had directed all traders and hawkers at the Kejetia bus terminal to vacate the place because the management of the facility, Freko Ltd. had expressed concerns that it was having challenges in the collection of tolls from the traders. According to her, the success story of the company in the Ashanti regional capital has become enviable to many, hence the various attempts being deployed to deride Freko Limited. Also, she unequivocally denied having told the Municipal Chief Executive (MCE), Samuel Sarpong at a meeting that Freko Limited was unable to efficiently and effectively collect the tolls as being rumoured. She petitioned the assembly to focus on dividing the road at the entry point of the terminal with plastic pillars to enable drivers pay their tolls conveniently. In addition, Madam Darko said even though the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (KMA) had reduced congestion by removing the Metro Mass Buses from the area, the activities of some GPRTU officials were not helping matters, exposing the union for not fulfilling its tax obligations at Kejetia. She continued that passengers at the Santase taxi station were left at the mercy of the scorching sun and rain since the structure, which served as shelter for them was converted into shops by one Mr. Boakye, the GPRTU Regional Chairman. The Managing Director assured that if she is given the needed assistance and liberty to operate, then she would change the bus terminal to meet standard. She emphasized “I am appealing to the appropriate authorities to give Freko the free hand to transform the place into the international site it deserves. I am a world traveller, and I know what is good for Kejetia, so those accusing me should do the right thing, instead of apportioning blame on me.” She disclosed that not all the people at the bus terminal were hawkers. Many of them, according to her, had even left the place due to the daily toll of GH¢2 per head, imposed on them by the KMA. The invasion of these hawkers, Madam Darko maintained, was initiated by the authority, which forced them into the bus terminal during the renewal period in order to collect tolls from them. Source: http://www.nayank80.blogspot.com/