Mayor Richard Ofori Agyeman of Kumasi has officially launched a comprehensive decongestion initiative by the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (KMA), which begins today, Monday, May 5, 2025.
The primary goal of this operation is to eliminate unauthorized structures and clear goods displayed on sidewalks, especially in busy areas like the Kejetia Roundabout (also referred to as the Otumfuo Roundabout) and the Adehyeman vicinity near the Kumasi Zoo.
In a statement to the press, Mayor Agyeman emphasized that the Assembly will take a firm stance against the illegal occupation of public spaces. “We will ensure that everyone occupying those spaces is removed. Any metallic object placed on the street will be cleared,” he affirmed.
The mayor also noted that adequate public notice had been provided in advance of the operation. “I will not make any more announcements. Everyone knows we will not entertain them there,” he reiterated.
Since taking office, Mayor Agyeman has repeatedly warned vendors operating on pavements in the central business district to vacate or face consequences. He has expressed dissatisfaction with traditional enforcement tactics—such as seizing goods and making arrests—which have proven ineffective in preventing traders from returning.
Addressing the impact of these activities on urban mobility and sanitation, the mayor described them as acts of indiscipline that exacerbate chronic congestion in the city. In a contentious stance, he has even suggested the possibility of implementing corporal punishment, including lashing, to deter repeat offenders.
This decongestion effort represents a renewed commitment by the Assembly to restore order and reclaim public spaces within the vibrant urban environment of Kumasi.
