Richard Ofori Agyemang Boadi, the mayor of Kumasi, has announced a rigorous plan to bring law and order back to the second-largest city in Ghana, specifically targeting roadside vendors and cattle owners.
The mayor declared at a news conference on Monday, April 14, that any stray cattle discovered in the city of Kumasi will be confiscated, killed, and given to the Kumasi Central Prison to feed the prisoners as of May 1.
There is another thing I want you to help me look at. If you have cattle and they stray in the vicinity of KMA, be assured that from May 1, they will be killed and given to Kumasi Central Prison for food—especially the route from the airport through to Manhyia Palace,” Mr. Boadi declared.
He expressed frustration with the sight of roaming cattle, particularly along high-profile corridors like the stretch from the Kumasi Airport to the Manhyia Palace, which he said tarnishes the city’s image in the eyes of visitors.
“I cannot sit for visitors to come to Kumasi, and from the airport to Manhyia, all they see are faecal matter from cattle,” he lamented.
The order is a component of the city’s larger initiatives to deal with the persistent annoyance caused by stray animals, which has led to multiple grievances from both locals and commuters.
In a related incident, the Central Business District (CBD) traders who operate on pavements and along the roadsides were given a two-week ultimatum by the mayor.
In an effort to restore order and reclaim pedestrian corridors, Mr. Boadi said that the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (KMA) would start a significant decongestion exercise on Wednesday, April 16.
He issued a warning that dealers who disobey this order may be subject to harsh penalties, including the contentious possibility of physical punishment.
