The Minority Caucus on the Local Government and Rural Development Committee of Parliament has strongly condemned recent remarks made by the Metropolitan Chief Executive of the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (KMA) in the Ashanti Region, Mr. Richard Ofori Agyemang Boadi, describing them as reckless and a threat to democratic governance.

The criticism follows statements by the Kumasi MCE in which he suggested the adoption of a "military-democratic" enforcement style and threatened physical action against traders who fail to comply with the Assembly's directives in the ongoing decongestion exercise.

In a statement signed by Francis Asenso-Boakye, Ranking Member of the Committee and Member of Parliament for Bantama, the Minority Caucus acknowledged the legal mandate of Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Assemblies (MMDAs) under the Local Governance Act (Act 936) to enforce by-laws and ensure public order.

However, the Caucus stressed that such powers must be exercised within the framework of the law and with full respect for human rights.

“Violence, threats of physical abuse, and the use of fear as a governance tool are unacceptable in any form and have no place in a constitutional democracy like ours,” the statement read.

“The remarks made by the MCE are not only reckless but also risk undermining public confidence in local authorities and may expose the Assembly to potential human rights violations.”

The Minority is calling on the Minister for Local Government and Rural Development to urgently intervene and impress upon the KMA MCE the need to retract his comments and adopt a more lawful, respectful, and humane approach in implementing the decongestion exercise.

In addition, the Caucus urged the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly to engage meaningfully with the affected traders and collaborate with all relevant stakeholders to identify and provide appropriate alternative trading spaces.

“The goal of decongestion must not be pursued at the cost of livelihoods.

Traders are not adversaries—they are citizens contributing to the local economy under often difficult conditions,” the statement emphasised.

Reaffirming their commitment to inclusive and accountable local governance, the Minority Caucus called for clean and organised cities to be achieved through lawful enforcement, public education, and collaborative planning, not intimidation.

“We must commit to building a country governed by the rule of law, compassion, and respect for the dignity of every Ghanaian,” the statement concluded.