The Convention People’s Party (CPP) has called on President John Dramani Mahama to immediately reassign the Kumasi Mayor, Richard Ofori Agyemang Boadi, following his controversial threat to use corporal punishment against traders flouting city directives.
The Party described the Mayor’s comments threatening to “beat” traders who defied the Assembly’s order as “inhumane” and “irresponsible,” arguing that such an approach to sanitising Kumasi’s central business district renders him unfit for office.
Speaking in an interview with the Ghana News Agency, Nana Akosua Frimpomaa Sarpong-Kumankumah, the CPP’s Flagbearer in the 2024 Presidential Election, firmly condemned the Mayor’s comments, insisting that the use of corporal punishment is unacceptable and ineffective in addressing urban challenges.
“The welfare of humanity should be at the centre of every policy that we implement,” she said, urging the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (KMA) to prioritise dialogue and stakeholder engagement in its decongestion efforts.
As an alternative approach, Nana Sarpong-Kumankumah recommended the creation of employment opportunities for women and the youth as a long-term solution to the congestion challenges caused by petty trading.
“Carrying things on the head and sitting in the scorching sun to sell is inhumane and shameful for this nation. It is the responsibility of the Government to create decent employment for the people. We have failed the people,” she stressed.
The CPP’s call follows a recent press conference held by the Kumasi Mayor, where he announced a two-week ultimatum for traders operating along pavements and roadsides in the central business district to vacate the area.
He warned that failure to comply would attract severe sanctions, including threats of physical assault, a statement that has since drawn sharp criticism from various quarters.
In addressing the broader issue, the CPP urged the KMA to adopt a data-driven approach in tackling street trading, stressing the need for proper planning.
“Cleaning Kumasi should be backed by data. We should know the number of people on the streets and what they do. We cannot address the problem without proper planning backed by data,” Nana Sarpong-Kumankumah added.