The Minority Caucus in Parliament has vehemently criticized the Mayor of Kumasi, Richard Ofori Agyemang Boadi, for his proposal to publicly punish traders who ignore directives to leave unauthorized trading areas within the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly.
The Mayor’s contentious remarks, made in anticipation of a forthcoming two-week decongestion initiative, have sparked significant public backlash, prompting many to urge him to retract his statement and offer a sincere apology.
In a statement released on Wednesday, April 16, Francis Asenso-Boakye, the ranking member of the Local Government and Rural Development Committee, characterized the mayor’s comments as irresponsible and a threat to democratic principles.
“Utilizing violence, threatening physical harm, and instilling fear as a means of governance is intolerable in any context and has no place in a constitutional democracy such as ours. The Mayor’s statements are not only reckless but also jeopardize public trust in local governance and could lead to potential human rights infringements,” part of the statement asserted.
Consequently, the Minority Caucus has urged the Minister for Local Government, Decentralisation and Rural Development, Ahmed Ibrahim, to take immediate action.
“We call upon the Minister for Local Government and Rural Development to act urgently and advise the Mayor on the necessity of retracting his comments, advocating for a more lawful, respectful, and humane method of enforcement.”
In response, the mayor maintains that his threat to punish non-compliant traders is essential for restoring order and enforcing discipline.
“I do not support relying on the police for decongestion, as it incurs significant costs, and ultimately, we would revert to the previous situation,” he stated.
“Those obstructing the road, some of whom are cooking and selling various foods, create an unappealing environment, and I intend to address this issue directly.
“Kumasi is overwhelmed with litter, and I am determined to tackle it directly.”
He, however, declined to disclose whether his decision had received approval from President John Dramani Mahama.
“We will not delve into that matter; let us concentrate on the final outcome.”
He contended that conventional enforcement strategies, such as depending on the police, have shown to be ineffective over time, and he believes that his direct approach would be more economical and influential.
