KMA Takes Over Control Of Kejetia Terminal

The Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (KMA) has taken over the management of the Kejetia terminal from Freko FD Limited with immediate effect. The company has been managing the facility, regarded as the biggest lorry terminal in West Africa, since 2001. A letter from the assembly dated November 8, 2013 and addressed to Madam Freda Darko, the Managing Director of the company, said the decision stemmed from various breaches in the agreement reached between the assembly and the company with regard to the management of the facility. "The KMA is constrained to take this instant action by reason of the fact that you have wilfully refused to remedy your breaches, notwithstanding that the KMA has, on several occasions, drawn your attention to same and has held discussions with you with a view to prevailing upon you to take your obligations under the agreement more seriously, " the letter, signed by the KMA Chief Executive, Mr Kojo Bonsu, said. Giving details, the letter recalled that by the agreement between the company and the KMA adopted on March 23, 2010, the duration of the agreement (2010-2015) was subject to satisfactory performance by the company. "We note that right from the inception of the agreement between you and the KMA, you have not only woefully failed to live up to your obligations under the agreement but also woefully refused to remedy your countless breaches of the terms of the agreement,� it said. Though the KMA stated that the breaches were many, it mentioned only two of them. One of them is the failure to maintain the toilet facilities at the terminal in good condition, which threatens the health of people who use them. Another major breach is what the KMA described as the company�s deliberate refusal to ensure transparency in the management of the Internet facility. "You have refused to make available to the KMA books reflecting the revenue collected over the period run to enable the KMA to verify the revenue collected," it said. It said the KMA would be failing the people of Kumasi if it allowed the funds derived from the Kejetia facility to go into wrong hands. The letter said the KMA had been extremely patient with the company with regard to the breaches and that it had no option but to take over the facility. When contacted by the Daily Graphic, Madam Darko said she had received the KMA letter but expressed surprise at the action taken by the assembly. She dismissed the allegations levelled against the company by the KMA, saying none of them could stand the test of law. Madam Darko said the toilet mentioned by the KMA was not managed by Freko Limited but another company. "It will, therefore, be wrong for the assembly to accuse Freko Limited of failing to manage the toilet well,� she said. On the failure of her company to render proper accounts of revenues received from the facility, the she said it was untrue and indicated that auditors had, over the years, audited the accounts of the company and had found nothing untoward. Madam Darko said she would consult her lawyers on the next line of action.