A taxi driver who returned a GH8,000 left in his car to the owner became an instant hero and got more than three times what he returned.
The story of the driver, Kwesi Ackon, has gone viral on social media, attracting praise and rewards, including a financial payment of GHC20,000 from Vice-President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, as well as numerous more donations from Ghanaians.
Mr Ackon, 37, who works for Kokomlemle, told the Daily Graphic on May 11, 2022, that he was astonished by the reaction to his action since he was merely following his Christian values of being honest and doing for people what he would like from them.
“When I returned the money, I did not think it was a big deal as it was just the right thing to do, but what has happened after that tells me that honesty, truth truly pays,” he said.
Incident
Mr Ackon described what happened to the Daily Graphic at the Asempa FM studios, where he had gone for an interview on Ekosi Sen with Osei Bonsu, saying it started last Saturday, May 7, when he transported a fishmonger and her ware from Mallam Atta Market to Teshie around 8 p.m., got paid, and closed for the day.
He spotted something unusual in his car the next day when cleaning it, and when he looked, he discovered it was money.
“At first it looked like a rug due to how it was folded, but later I realised it was an apron smelling of fish. So I looked inside and to my surprise, I found all that money,” he explained
Mr Ackon stated that he did not first count the money, but it was later shown to be GhC8,400.00.
He emphasized that his first thought was to find the woman and refund the money to her because she was the last passenger he picked.
Read Also: UK blames Russia for satellite internet hack at start of war
“Returning the money was the only thing that came to my mind and my wife also encouraged me to and so I did exactly that. As a Christian, my conviction is: If something does not belong to you, don’t take it or keep it.
“Returning the money was nothing new to me on the job. People lose their phones and other valuables in my taxi all the time and every single one of them has always been returned to them.
“I listen to my heart and it instructed me to return the money,” he stressed.
He returned the money after tracking the woman down to where he dropped her off the night before, and the woman’s children, impressed by the gesture, allegedly recorded and shared the brief video.
The video quickly went viral, thrusting it into the spotlight.
“I honestly never expected this attention. I never thought that the video would reach as far as it has to attract that reaction,” he said.
Gratitude, Donations
Aside from the GHC20,000 from the Vice President, he has received donations from a variety of other individuals.
Ekosi Sen also started a special fundraising campaign for him yesterday.
Mr Ackon took advantage of the chance to express his heartfelt appreciation to the Vice-President for his assistance, stating that he would put the money to good use.
“I have plans with the money, the most important of which is to purchase my own automobile and then spend the rest for other things in my life,” he explained.
SOURCE: GRAPHIC ONLINE
