The Minority Caucus in Parliament has condemned the Mayor of Kumasi, Richard Ofori Agyemang Boadi, for proposing to publicly flog traders who refuse to leave unauthorized trading areas within the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly.
The Mayor’s comments, made in advance of a two-week decongestion exercise, have sparked widespread public backlash, with many demanding a retraction and apology.
In a statement released on Wednesday, April 16, the Ranking Member on the Local Government and Rural Development Committee, Francis Asenso-Boakye, criticized the Mayor’s remarks as irresponsible and a threat to democratic governance.
The Minority Caucus believes the use of violence, threats, and intimidation has no place in a democratic society and warned that such actions could erode public trust in local authorities and lead to potential human rights abuses.
The caucus has called on the Minister for Local Government, Decentralirsation and Rural Development, Ahmed Ibrahim, to intervene.
They are urging the Minister to compel the Mayor to withdraw his comments and adopt a more lawful, respectful, and humane method of enforcement.
Despite the backlash, the Mayor has defended his stance, arguing that the use of police for such exercises is expensive and ineffective, often resulting in a return to the previous disorder.
He emphasized the need to address the issue of traders operating in the middle of the road, including those cooking and selling food, which he believes contributes to the poor sanitation in Kumasi.
While refusing to disclose whether his approach had presidential approval, the Mayor insisted that the focus should be on achieving results rather than the methods employed.
He maintained that conventional enforcement strategies have failed over the years and believes his direct approach will be both cost-effective and impactful.