Traders and drivers at the Kejetia Bus Terminal have been recounting how security guards of FREKO FD, managers of the lorry park, have been subjecting them to various forms of abuse. They accuse the guards of verbally and physically assaulting users of the terminal without provocation while the police look on. Victims are reluctant to report such incidents to the police because they believe personnel at the police post are in collusion with the FREKO guards. Common to all lorry terminals especially in the cities, every conceivable item from food, clothing, electrical and other household goods are available on sale at the Kejetia Lorry Terminal. Hawkers and other traders as well as patrons, most of them travellers, enjoy the atmosphere. At least that is the conclusion I drew as I moved from one station to the other on a recent visit. I came across a Tarkwa-bound Mercedes Benz bus. Many traders peep through the windows as they cry their wares to attract attention of potential buyers. Passengers have no choice but to listen with mixed reaction, to the cacophony from these aggressive sellers. The brisk business at Kejetia however comes at a cost to the traders. Besides having to pay a toll of GHS2 daily, the traders say hardly does a day pass without security guards abusing one trader or another. They allege that the guards harass them even after paying the toll, resulting frequently not only in the loss of their wares, but more seriously physical injury to traders. Those who dare to demand compensation for their vandalized items end up at the Kejetia Police Station where in many instances; victims are detained for hours without any hope of getting their lost wares back. Management of FREKO, with the support of the police are always in defence of erring guards. The immediate impression is that the Kejetia lorry park is gradually becoming a jungle where only the fittest survive. One trader alleged there are repeated claims the Kejetia park belongs to one woman and so is the police station, so when you report any wrong doing involving FREKO officials, they will not mind you at all, however when a FREKO FD official lodges a complaint against you, the police will arrest and detain you for hours. For this trader, this is the proof that the police and FREKO are in cahoots. Other traders claimed FREKO officials will arrest you out of sheer hatred and will never inquire whether or not you have a ticket. They will frame allegations of insulting behaviour against you, and you and that's it. Bread and kenkey sellers are said to be the worst victims of the daily FREKO brutalities as ‘guards trample on their items with impunity’ and brag about it. Drivers operating at the terminal are not spared the inhumane treatment by FREKO guards. There is this driver who said he gave GHS2 to a FREKO guard in exchange for coins. The guard will neither give the coins nor the cedi note to the driver, insisting he would issue a toll ticket to cover the money. The driver meanwhile, had already paid the toll for the day. He grabs the guard to return his money but gets bitten on the hand. He seeks first aid and refuses to report the matter to the police, claiming it is a hopeless endeavour. "When I gave the cedi note to the guard in exchange for coins, he insisted he will issue a second ticket to me. He ignored repeated appeals to give my money back. When I tried to get hold of him, he bit my hand. He then rushed to the police station and lodged a complaint against me." "If policemen at Kejetia Police would be objective, they won’t back him, but he had his way," he said. Checks at the Kumasi Central District Police Command reveal many reports of FREKO guards and police assaulting traders at Kejetia. Two reports were lodged this week separately by a yam seller and a torch seller. Officials of FREKO appear to see nothing wrong at the development, which they describe as common. Interestingly FREKO has no record of complaints of assault filed by traders against the company guards as they go unpunished. Security Coordinator, Seth Ofori admits it is common to see traders and guards in confrontation, but he accused some traders of deliberately destroying their wares in such daily exchanges with guards, an accusation the traders deny. "Some of the traders when you arrest them, will deliberately destroy their wares and later turn around to accuse you of willfully destroying their wares and demand compensation from us." Mr Ofori assured his outfit will support investigations into conduct of guards at the terminal. Meanwhile the Central District Police Command is becoming worried over the violent approach by FREKO guards and tax collectors at the Kejetia Lorry Terminal. District Commander, Superintendent P.K. Addo, is unhappy officials of the company are breaching the law for which they are liable for prosecution. Mr. Addo assures the command will investigate all forms of abuse and maltreatment at the Kejetia Lorry Terminal, and advised traders to feel free to report all such cases to the command for action. Story by: Ohemeng Tawiah/Nhyira FM-Kumasi/Ghana