Kumasi Decongestion Exercise takes off

The Kumasi Metropolitan Authorities started decongesting the city yesterday as was announced earlier.

The exercise, which some traders thought could not be undertaken, started as early as 4a.m., with the police, military and fire service personnel on guard as city guards broke and burnt anything which was ‘at the wrong place.’

The exercise which started at the Kumasi Central Business District (CBD) would be extended to other areas such as Alabar, Dr. Mensah, Roman Hill and the Aboabo station. The remaining areas are the Zoo Lane, Donkirk Cargo Station and Morocco area.

The Mayor of Kumasi Samuel Sarpong told press men that an initial GH¢5, 000 budget had been provided by the assembly for the exercise to get traders and pedestrians off the roads of the city.

He explained that the exercise could not take place last Monday because they wanted the hawkers and traders to leave the pavements voluntarily since they had decided to give it a ‘human face’.

“We are starting today and surely we will sustain it. Those who will return will be arrested and prosecuted in court”. The Mayor warned.

Hon. Sarpong said the proceeds from the fines of offenders would be used to sustain the exercise.

He said some satellites markets were available in the city and traders and hawkers were required to move there and not return to the decongested areas.

The Mayor was satisfied that road users and pedestrians were happy about the exercise.

He noted that previous decongestion exercises had failed because politics was read into them and his administration had decided they would not allow any political issues to defeat the exercise.

He said the assembly was, in the long term, considering to setting up a Flea Market or Sunday Market in specific areas of the city on weekends and also go for even-numbered and odd-numbered vehicle system.

“This hopefully will bring the congestion in the city under control”, he said.

Meanwhile traders at the CBD looked on helplessly as their tables and some of their goods were being burnt to ashes.

City authorities embark on decongestion of Kumasi Market

Some of them who spoke to TODAY appealed to the assembly to make the satellites market a conducive place for them to trade their wares.

They also said since the assembly said they were adding a human face to the exercise, it would have been better to give them some more time to relocate.

However some shoe sellers at the Dr. Mensah area though were angry seemed unperturbed about the exercise.

“The mayor is just showing off some powers but we are not that disturbed. Even Akwasi Agyeman could not sack us from here” they said adding that “se ehuruhuru a, ebedwo” (to wit, even when it boils, it will get cold).

The Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly has seen some decongestion exercises with the last one costing the nation about 1.2 billion old Ghana cedis.

The previous exercises failed due to lack of political will on the part of the political authorities.

Because of its numerous failures, the traders know this will also fail and hence they will return to the streets.

Therefore the main challenge of the Sarpong administration is the sustenance of the exercise which he has assured will be carried through.

BYJAMES APPIAKORANG JNR., KUMASI