The Mayor of Kumasi, Richard Ofori Agyemang Boadi, has issued a strong warning to traders operating illegally on pavements in the city’s central business district, stating that they face severe consequences if they fail to vacate within two weeks.

Speaking at a press conference on Monday, the Mayor announced that the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (KMA) will begin a decongestion exercise on Wednesday, 16 April. The operation, which will last for two weeks, aims to clear traders who occupy pavements and roadsides, contributing to congestion in the city.

Mr. Boadi, who recently assumed office, said previous measures—such as confiscating goods and making arrests—have proven ineffective in deterring illegal street trading. He warned that those who defy the order may face corporal punishment.

“I have my own military-democratic style,” he said. “If you don’t leave when instructed and my team finds you there, we will act. My boys will be with me—with whips. We will beat you.”

The mayor defended his approach as necessary to restore order and preserve Kumasi’s image as the “Garden City of West Africa,” referencing the Asante Kingdom’s cultural significance and calling on traders to comply voluntarily.

Critics are likely to question the legality and human rights implications of using physical force in city enforcement. However, the mayor maintains that decisive action is essential to maintain public order.

The KMA’s decongestion efforts are part of a broader push to improve urban management and ease traffic congestion in Ghana’s second-largest city.

Source:TheDotNews