Legal Expert Condemns Kumasi Mayor’s Forceful Decongestion Strategy

Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (KMA) Mayor Richard Ofori Agyemang Boadi faces sharp criticism from legal practitioner and media personality Samson Lardy Anyenini over plans to deploy what he termed “brute force” against traders in a citywide decongestion operation.

The Mayor, during an April 14 press conference, announced the crackdown would commence on April 16, targeting traders occupying pavements and roadways in defiance of city bylaws. He cited failed prior efforts, including arrests and confiscations, as justification for stricter measures.

Samson Lardy, host of Joy News’ Newsfile, challenged the approach in an open letter, asserting that threats of physical violence against traders violate constitutional protections. “Dear Kumasi Mayor, ‘beat[ing]’ traders to remove them from those ‘pavements’ or streets is assault. That’s a crime,” he wrote, invoking Article 15 of Ghana’s Constitution, which prohibits torture, cruelty, and degrading treatment. Lardy emphasized that even lawbreakers retain inherent dignity: “You must not subject them to any condition that detracts or is likely to detract from their dignity and worth as human beings.”

The Mayor’s announcement highlighted mounting frustration over persistent congestion in Ghana’s second-largest city, where informal traders often reclaim spaces hours after clearance operations. Boadi argued the blockages hinder traffic flow and emergency services, exacerbating urban disorder. However, Lardy countered that authoritarian tactics undermine democratic principles, stating, “In this democracy of rule of law, we don’t resort to lawlessness to check lawlessness, sir.”

The clash underscores a recurring tension in Ghanaian cities between municipal authority and informal livelihoods. While decongestion efforts are legally permissible, legal analysts stress enforcement must align with human rights standards. Past crackdowns in Accra and Kumasi have sparked public backlash, with critics accusing authorities of prioritizing aesthetics over socioeconomic realities. Over 60% of Ghana’s workforce operates in the informal sector, complicating efforts to balance urban planning with survival strategies.

The KMA has yet to respond to Lardy’s letter, but the controversy has reignited debates about sustainable solutions to urban congestion. Governance experts urge dialogue with trader associations and investment in designated market spaces, arguing punitive measures alone fail to address systemic drivers of informality. As Kumasi’s population swells, the path to orderliness without trampling rights remains a litmus test for equitable urban governance.