Newly elected Executive members of the Kumba Cargo Line Drivers Association have been warned to guard against embezzling the Union’s funds and to shun acts that demean the driving profession.

The note of warning was sounded by the Second Assistant Senior Divisional Officer, SDO for Meme, Nelson Yongkhuma Gamsi, on November 24, during the Elective General Assembly and installation ceremony of the new executive of the Union.

Yongkuma said their sense of grouping together as a union and the putting in place of an executive bureau is a sign of responsibility and orderliness, which helps to maintain peace and ensure the development of the economy.

During the elections, Divine Chi was voted President after two rounds of secret balloting. Chi and his Presidential opponent, Martin Akum, shared 16 votes in the first round, while third contestant, Idris Touoffo, bowed out with 12 votes.

Despite attempts to strike a consensus between the first two candidates to avoid the somewhat tedious voting procedure, both candidates opted for a rerun, a decision which Yongkuma and the Electoral Commission accepted.

Round two of the voting exercise produced surprising results as Chi scored 25 votes on a pink colour ticket, while his main rival, Akum slumped from his earlier 16 votes in the first round, to 15.

Kennedy Nfor, Eugene Nouah and Denis Muwud were elected, by acclamation, as Secretary General, Financial Secretary and Treasurer respectively.

Yongkhuma advised the transporters to ensure that their association gets clearance from the SDO's office, so as to engage in meaningful projects that can benefit both the members and the society.

Talking to reporters after his election, Divine Chi disclosed that one of their major challenges is constant police harassment and too many check points. He appealed to the powers that be to bring the situation under control so that their working conditions could be favourable in terms of the amount of money they take home daily.

Chi averred that he intends to revive social activities such as sports to ensure a friendly and brotherly atmosphere among members.

The Kumba Cargo Line Drivers concentrate in the transportation of food items and goods to and from Kumba and to other destinations across the Southwest, Northwest and Littoral Regions.