The Mayor of Kumasi, Richard Ofori Agyemang Boadi, has defended his controversial remarks about using corporal punishment against traders who flout the city’s pavement trading ban.
The Mayor had earlier announced a two-week decongestion exercise beginning Wednesday, April 16, 2025, targeting traders operating on pavements and in unauthorized spaces within Kumasi’s Central Business District.
Speaking on Eyewitness News on Citi FM with Umaru Sanda Amadu, Mayor Boadi justified his threat to flog defiant traders, describing it as a necessary step to restore order and enforce discipline.
“I don’t believe in using the police for decongestion because I will spend so much on them, and after that, we will get back to the status quo,” he said.
“Those on the middle of the road, some of them are cooking, selling all manner of food, it’s not attract, I want to deal with it head-on.
“Kumasi is engulfed with so much filth and I want to deal with it head-on.”
He, however, refused to mention if his decision was sanctioned by President John Dramani Mahama.
“We won’t get to that point, let the focus be on the end product.”
He argued that traditional enforcement methods, including relying on the police, have proven ineffective over the years, and his direct approach would be more cost-effective and impactful.
Mayor Boadi added that the long-term goal is to transform Kumasi into a business-friendly city that attracts investment and supports growth, noting that a clean and well-organized urban environment is key to achieving that vision.
