The newly confirmed Chief Executive of the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (KMA), Richard Ofori Agyemang Boadi, has wasted no time in drawing battle line
The newly confirmed Chief Executive of the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (KMA), Richard Ofori Agyemang Boadi, has wasted no time in drawing battle lines with traders who have encroached upon the city’s pavements.
In a bold declaration that has stirred both support and apprehension, the man popularly known as King Zuba has launched what many are calling a “war on street trading” in a bid to reclaim Kumasi’s congested city center.
Speaking just hours after his confirmation on Thursday, April 10, the new mayor sent a clear message to traders operating illegally on pavements and roadsides, particularly in Adum and the Central Market area: vacate immediately or face forceful eviction. “If you are selling on the pavement, adjust yourself,” he warned.
“If you are in the middle of any dual carriageway road, especially within the central business district, please get out of the place. Because from Wednesday, we will get on the street and make sure that we clear Kumasi from all the filth that we see.”
A Mandate Backed by History and Power
King Zuba’s confirmation was nothing short of emphatic. Securing 55 out of 56 votes from the Assembly Members, his 98.2% approval was seen as a clear mandate for decisive action.
His nomination by President John Dramani Mahama was widely applauded by the Kumasi Traditional Council, traders’ associations, and political stakeholders.
With a background as a former Municipal Chief Executive for Obuasi, his leadership credentials were never in doubt.
But now, with the weight of the presidency and local traditional authorities behind him — including the revered Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II — King Zuba is under pressure to deliver.
A City Under Siege
Kumasi’s central district has long suffered from uncontrolled street trading, chaotic vehicular movement, and sanitation woes.
Residents, business owners, and tourists alike have lamented the deteriorating state of the once-orderly garden city.
King Zuba made it clear he intends to act swiftly. “With the decongestion, we will not apply the forces of military men,” he stated. “Everybody wants to sell at Adum, so we will find some ingenious way to keep them in Adum and decongest Adum.”
Approach to Enforcement
While the new mayor ruled out the use of the military, he emphasized that the operation would not lack strength or resolve.
“Kumasi should expect cooperation, discipline. There is a lot of indiscipline in our metropolis,” he stressed. “In all humility, I am going to ensure strict compliance with the Assembly by-laws.”
He hinted at new methods to balance economic activity with order, though details of these “ingenious” strategies remain under wraps.
Reviving the City’s Stalled Dreams
Beyond the cleanup, Mayor Boadi also spotlighted the city’s stalled infrastructure projects, vowing to breathe new life into developments like the Krofrom Market and the second phase of the Kejetia/Central Market Redevelopment Project.
“With the Kejetia phase two, the contractors are on site, [but] the energy that we are expecting to see is not what we are seeing,” he remarked. “The regional minister has been working on it for some time. I will get a briefing from him on whatever has transpired. I believe that by the end of President Mahama’s tenure, the Kejetia market will be ready.”
A New Chapter
King Zuba enters office with high expectations. His pledges to transform Kumasi, tackle indiscipline, and enforce laws have raised hopes among city dwellers. But the battle lines have been drawn.
Traders — many of whom operate without alternatives — argue they have no choice but to sell on pavements to survive.
The weeks ahead will test the new mayor’s promise of innovation, diplomacy, and firmness.
COMMENTS