Minority Caucus Berate K’si Mayor For His “We’ll Flog You” Comment

The Minority Caucus on the Local Government and Rural Development Committee of Parliament, have taken note, with deep concern, of recent statements made by the Mayor of Kumasi, Richard Ofori Agyemang Boadi, in which he described the adoption of a “military-democratic” style of enforcement on street traders.

The newly confirmed Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (KMA) boss speaking at a press conference on Monday, April 14, threatened physical assault on traders who do not comply with directives regarding the ongoing decongestion exercise.

The Kumasi Mayor who is affectionately called King Zuba vowed to flog recalcitrant traders beginning from April 24 with a team of 10 well-built men armed with rattan canes.

” I am not going to the police to arrest them (traders) because when you arrest them, they go to the police station and find their own means and they are back on the street. That is a waste of time and resources for me, so I have my own way of democratic-military style, which I will implement. When we say leave this way and you do not leave this place and I get there and you are not lucky and my boys are with me there, then we will beat you,” he noted.

He continued, “this is Otumfuo’s land. This is Asantehene’s land and the Garden City of West Africa. We have to preserve its image, and I am here to work and to satisfy the city for Otumfuo. I want to ensure that this city looks like Otumfuo city,” he stressed.

“When the guys say leave the middle of the road, leave before they get you, and I am saying that the time period of two weeks that I am giving, they should adhere to this simple instruction.

However, Member of Parliament for Bantama and Ranking Member of Local Government and Rural Development Committee of Parliament, Francis Asenso-Boakye, in a press release on behalf of the Minority Caucus, described the remarks made by the Mayor as not only reckless, but also risk undermining public confidence in local authorities which may expose the Assembly to potential human rights violations.

While fully acknowledging the Local Governance Act (Act 936) which empowers Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs) as the highest planning authorities within their jurisdictions, and ‘it is indeed their lawful duty to enforce bylaws and ensure public order, including preventing trading on pedestrian walkways’ the Minority Caucus noted that the mandate must be carried out within the confines of the law and with full respect for human rights.

“Violence, threats of physical abuse, and the use of fear as a governance tool are unacceptable in any form and have no place in a constitutional democracy like ours,” they said.

The Bantama MP on behalf of his colleague MPs called on the Minister for Local Government and Rural Development to intervene as a matter of urgency and impress upon the Kumasi Mayor the need to retract his comments and adopt a more lawful, respectful, and humane approach to enforcement.

They alao urged the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly to engage meaningfully with the affected traders, and work with all relevant stakeholders to identify and provide suitable alternative trading spaces.

“The goal of decongestion must not be pursued at the cost of livelihoods. Traders are not adversaries—they are citizens contributing to the local economy under often difficult conditions,” they reiterated.

The Minority Caucus they stressed remain committed to promoting inclusive, accountable, and human-centered local governance in Ghana, emphasizing that clean and organized cities can and must be achieved through collaborative planning, education, and lawful enforcement; not intimidation and violence.