The Mayor of Kumasi, Richard Ofori Agyemang Boadi, has unveiled a strict plan to restore law and order in Ghana’s second-largest city, targeting cattle owners and roadside traders.
At a press conference held on Monday, April 14, the Mayor announced that starting May 1, any stray cattle found within the Kumasi metropolis will be seized, slaughtered, and handed over to the Kumasi Central Prison to feed inmates.
“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 directive is part of the city’s broader efforts to address the longstanding nuisance posed by stray animals, a problem that has prompted numerous complaints from residents and commuters alike.
In a related development, the Mayor issued a two-week ultimatum to traders operating on pavements and along the roadsides of the Central Business District (CBD).
Mr. Boadi announced that the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (KMA) will begin a major decongestion exercise starting Wednesday, April 16, to reclaim pedestrian walkways and restore order.
He warned that traders who violate this directive could face severe sanctions, including the controversial threat of physical punishment.
