Former Ashanti Regional Minister Simon Osei-Mensah has sharply criticized recent remarks made by Kumasi Mayor Richard Ofori Agyemang Boadi, who threatened to flog traders who defy a new directive banning pavement trading in the city.
Mayor Boadi announced a two-week decongestion exercise starting Wednesday, April 16, 2025, aimed at clearing unauthorized traders from pavements and other public spaces within Kumasi’s central business district. During his announcement, he warned of physical punishment for those who refuse to comply.
“If I am alone, you will be lucky. But if I have my 10 boys in their pick-up with me and their whips, trust me, we will beat you,” Boadi said.
Responding to these comments in an interview, Mr. Osei-Mensah firmly rejected the use of violence as a method of enforcement.
“There’s no law supporting it,” he stated, referring to the mayor’s threat of flogging.
He called for a more humane and lawful approach to dealing with street trading, suggesting that city authorities create designated spaces where vendors can operate without disrupting public order or safety.
When asked if he would have adopted a similar approach during his tenure, Mr. Osei-Mensah responded unequivocally: “No,” distancing himself from the mayor’s controversial comments.
