Newly confirmed Chief Executive of the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (KMA), Richard Ofori Agyemang Boadi, has issued a strong warning to traders operating on pavements within the Central Business District and Central Market to vacate their spots immediately.

The directive forms part of a major decongestion campaign set to begin next week, aimed at restoring order and improving movement across the city.

The Kumasi Mayor, who secured overwhelming support from Assembly Members, assumed office with a firm commitment to tackling congestion—an issue that has long plagued the metropolis.

Speaking after his confirmation on Thursday, April 10, Mr. Ofori Agyemang Boadi announced that the KMA would roll out a sweeping decongestion exercise in the coming week.

He emphasized that while the operation would not involve the military, it would be implemented using innovative approaches designed to maintain commercial activity while reclaiming public spaces.

In addition, he outlined plans to revive key stalled infrastructure projects, notably the Krofrom Market and the second phase of the Central Market redevelopment.

“With the Kejetia phase two, the contractors are on site, the energy that we are expecting to see is not what we are seeing. 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,” he stated.

Touching on sanitation, the Mayor expressed concern about the high level of indiscipline in the city and pledged to enforce KMA by-laws strictly.

“Kumasi should expect cooperation, discipline. There is a lot of indiscipline in our metropolis. In all humility, I am going to ensure strict compliance with the Assembly to the by-law that manages our city. If you are selling on the pavement, adjust yourself.

“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.

“With the decongestion, we will not apply the forces of military men. Everybody wants to sell at Adum, so we will find some ingenious way to keep them in Adum and decongest Adum,” he directed.