Mayor Zuba’s ‘Military-Democratic’ Tactics Spark Fierce Backlash Ahead of Decongestion Drive
Kumasi – Mayor Richard Ofori Agyemang Boadi, famously known as ‘Zuba’, is making headlines once again – this time for threatening to whip street traders who refuse to clear Kumasi’s pavements in a bold decongestion crackdown.
In a fiery press conference on April 14, the mayor delivered an ultimatum to hawkers occupying the city’s busy pavements: pack up and leave within two weeks – or face physical consequences.
“I have my own military-democratic style,” Zuba declared defiantly. “If you don’t leave when I tell you to, expect me and my team to show up – with canes in hand.” He made it clear that any traders who failed to comply with the removal order would be “beaten.”
With Kumasi’s notorious traffic congestion escalating due to illegal street trading, the mayor’s stern warning comes as the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (KMA) gears up for its high-stakes decongestion exercise, beginning on April 16. The city’s central business district is expected to undergo a drastic overhaul to reclaim pedestrian walkways and restore order to the streets.
Zuba’s call for order follows multiple failed attempts by the KMA to tackle the rampant encroachment. Previous crackdowns, which included arrests and the seizure of goods, have been largely ineffective, as traders repeatedly return to their pavement posts.
“Indiscipline has caused this mess, and I will deal with it firmly,” the mayor added, signalling that the era of tolerance for illegal hawking was officially over.
No Mercy, No Retreat
The mayor took a strong stance, reminding residents that Kumasi – long known as the “Garden City of West Africa” and the seat of Otumfuo Osei Tutu II – would not be tarnished by lawlessness.
“This is Otumfuo’s city,” he declared, before issuing a chilling warning: “If you want to make my job difficult, I will let you feel the pain you’re causing.”
While some residents cheer the mayor’s no-nonsense approach, calling it a necessary step to restore order, others have voiced their concerns. Civil society organisations and human rights groups have condemned the mayor’s endorsement of physical punishment as a tool of governance, calling it an overreach that undermines human dignity.
Despite the uproar, the KMA has made it clear that the decongestion exercise will proceed as scheduled, with affected traders urged to relocate to designated markets within the two-week deadline. The KMA insists that this firm stance is necessary to clean up Kumasi’s streets and ensure a smoother urban experience for everyone.
As the clock ticks down, it remains to be seen whether Zuba’s iron fist will finally bring an end to Kumasi’s pavement trading problem – or whether it will only escalate tensions and spark further protests. For now, one thing is certain: Mayor Zuba has drawn his line in the sand
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