Accra, April 19, 2025 — The Convention People’s Party (CPP) is calling on President John Dramani Mahama to immediately reassign the Kumasi Mayor, Richard Ofori Agyemang Boadi, following his controversial threats to physically assault traders who defy city regulations.

The Mayor’s remarks—where he warned of “beating” traders who fail to comply with decongestion directives in the Kumasi central business district—have sparked widespread condemnation. The CPP has described his comments as “inhumane” and “irresponsible,” arguing that such rhetoric renders him unfit for public office.

🗣️ “We Have Failed the People” – CPP Flagbearer
Nana Akosua Frimpomaa Sarpong-Kumankumah, the CPP’s 2024 presidential candidate, expressed her disappointment in an interview with the Ghana News Agency, stressing that corporal punishment is neither a humane nor effective approach to urban management.

“The welfare of humanity should be at the centre of every policy that we implement,” she stated, urging the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (KMA) to embrace dialogue and inclusive engagement in its decongestion efforts.

As a long-term solution, the CPP proposed the creation of employment opportunities, particularly for women and the youth, to address the root causes of street trading and congestion.

“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,” Nana Sarpong-Kumankumah said.

📊 Data, Not Force
The CPP also called for a data-driven strategy to clean up Kumasi, suggesting that proper urban planning must begin with understanding the demographics and occupations of street traders.

“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,” she emphasized.

The Mayor's recent press conference, where he issued a two-week ultimatum for traders to vacate pavements and roadsides, has sparked a national conversation on how to enforce city by-laws without violating human dignity.