Kumasi Metro Assembly embarks on decongestion exercise
The Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (KMA) Special Task Force, on Monday embarked on a massive decongestion exercise to enhance the free- flow of vehicular and human movement in the metropolis.
The five-hour exercise saw illegal structures at the Central Business District (CBD), Sofo Line, Bantama and Suame Roundabout being demolished.
Mr Clement Kegeri of the KMA Public Relations Department told the Ghana News Agency (GNA) that the exercise aimed at restoring Kumasi to its former status as the Garden City of West Africa.
He condemned the impunity with which some petty traders engaged in business activities on pavements and other illegal areas, noting that this had created congestion in the metropolis.
Mr Kegeri said military and police personnel were on hand to give support to ensure the success of the exercise.
The KMA, he said, would continue to enforce its bye-laws for the sustainable development and growth of the metropolis.
When GNA later visited the affected areas, some distraught petty traders were seen loitering around ostensibly waiting for the Task Force to leave for them to come back and display their wares on the ground.
Mr Kofi Yeboah, a trader, lambasted the Assembly for not giving them enough time to relocate and said the whole exercise was not given a human face.
He said the traders had been rendered helpless as there was no alternative place for them to trade.
Madam Adwoa Afriyie, also a trader, appealed to the Assembly to as a matter of urgency meet the affected traders and dialogue with them for sanity to prevail.
She threatened that they would have no choice but to hit the streets to register their displeasure against the exercise.
Source: GNA