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Claim: A Facebook user claims that a free public transportation service is available for residents of Kumasi.
Verdict: False, DUBAWA checks reveal that the link is a phishing link, and there is no official announcement of free transport for residents in Kumasi.
Full Text
A Facebook page, Public Transportation in Kumasi, in a post claims residents in Kumasi can now access a transportation promotion by signing up for an attached link.
The page shared a picture of what looked like an access card with the caption:
“Free public transport for Kumasi residents! KMA is offering a limited-time transport card. Enjoy free travel for 6 months for just 28₵! Win a new pass and enjoy unlimited travel on all modes of transport in Kumasi and its surroundings for only 28₵ for 6 months! Hurry, there will only be 1,000 unique cards available at this special price! Follow the link to find out more! https://mypolygotjourney.com/w1gVsMtJ.”
A picture shared in the post, accompanied by the caption. Image Source: Facebook.
Find similar claims by the same page here, here, and here.
In a period where the new government has launched the Big Push Programme covering road infrastructure, DUBAWA decided to probe further to ascertain whether there is such a new promo or a dubious means by which people can fall victim.
Verification
DUBAWA conducted a Google reverse image search to determine if the images originated from any rail system in Ghana, specifically in Kumasi. The search revealed that the picture in the post is a collage of trains from different locations.
The blue, lemon green, and white train in the first frame is a train associated with the London Tramlink in the United Kingdom, not with any transport services in Kumasi. The blue and white train in the second frame is associated with Charlotte Rail Services in the United States of America, whereas the white and sky blue tram in the third frame is linked to Tram T9 in various cities in France.
To verify the authenticity of the link provided in the post, the researcher attempted to register for an Easy Access Card, which offers discounted transportation services in Kumasi. The link exhibited features of a phishing link. The link leads to a website where you are welcomed and asked to fill out a three-question questionnaire, which directs you to another page where you can win a “Tap and Hop card.” One is asked to fill in confidential information for the card to be posted to their destination.
Also, a keyword search did not indicate any such announcement by the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (KMA). Such an announcement would have garnered significant attention from major news outlets, especially in Kumasi. However, as of the publication of this report, there was no such report. Further checks were conducted on the official KMA website, and unsurprisingly, we found no mention of transportation promotion running in greater Kumasi or the Ashanti Region as a whole.
Further, the only major news regarding transportation in Kumasi is the government’s intention to undertake “priority road projects” in the Ashanti Region as part of the flagship Big Push Programme. Under the Big Push, the Ashanti Region will have the Kumasi Outer Ring Road (Eastern Quadrant) constructed.
Conclusion
The claim that the KMA is running a transport promotion is false. The link in the post is a phishing link.
