The Mayor of the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (KMA), Richard Ofori Agyemang Boadi, has issued a stern warning to traders against operating on pavements and roads within the Central Business District.
Mr. Boadi has given traders a two-week deadline to cease their activities, cautioning that defiant traders will face serious consequences, including physical discipline.
He explained that traditional methods such as confiscating goods and arrests have not been effective, leading him to adopt a more direct approach.
“I have my own military-democratic style which I will be implementing. When we say leave the space, and you don’t leave the space, and I get there with my boys, we will beat you,” he stated.
The warning was delivered during a press conference on Monday, April 14, 2025, where he announced plans for a decongestion exercise aimed at clearing traders from pavements and roadsides.
Mr. Boadi further emphasized, “In the middle of Adum, if I’m alone, you will be lucky, but if I’m with my ten boys, in their pick-up with their whips, trust me, we will beat you. If you don’t want to experience that kind of situation, do what is right and lawful.”
He stressed the importance of maintaining order in Kumasi, dubbing it “Otumfoo’s city” and the “garden city of West Africa,” adding, “We have to preserve it. If you want the job to be difficult for me, I will let your body feel the difficulty you are giving to me.”
Mr. Boadi clarified that he does not expect to be criticized or labeled as ruthless when implementing these measures and urged traders to comply voluntarily to avoid confrontation.
ALSO READ: