Richard Ofori Agyemang Boadi, the Mayor of Kumasi, has abandoned his controversial proposal to punish street vendors with corporal punishment. Following widespread backlash to his initial threats made at a press conference on April 14, 2025, the Kumasi Mayor has opted for a new approach.
His new approach is a legal action aimed at enforcing order among traders occupying sidewalks in the city’s bustling commercial district.
Initially, Mayor Boadi suggested a military-style enforcement to curb street vending, stating, “I will be implementing. When we say leave the space and you don’t leave, and I get there and you’re still there with my boys — right there and then, we will beat you.”
“In the middle of Adum, if I’m alone, you’ll be lucky. But if I’m with my ten boys, in their pick-up with their whips — trust me, we will beat you. If you don’t want to experience that, do what is right and lawful.”
“This is Otumfuo’s area, the Garden City of West Africa, and we have to preserve it. If you want to make my job difficult, I will make your body feel the difficulty you’re causing me,” he stated.
The Kumasi Mayor argued that immediate punishment was necessary to restore order but acknowledged the unfavorable response to his proposed methods.
In a subsequent interview with TV3, the Kumasi Mayor shifted gears and proclaimed a commitment to legal measures instead. “…Other people have suggested jail terms instead of corporal punishment. So, I want to adopt that approach and see how it works,” he stated.
This new strategy will involve taking non-compliant traders to court, ensuring they face potential jail time rather than physical punishment or flogging.
This change in the Kumasi Mayor’s strategy appears to align with a broader push for maintaining public order while respecting the rights of individuals.
