I’ll beat traders comment: ‘How did such a person get appointed as Kumasi Mayor? — Kwesi Pratt quizzes

Renowned journalist and Managing Editor of the Insight Newspaper, Kwesi Pratt Jnr, has weighed in on conversations surrounding the conduct of the new Kumasi Mayor, Richard Ofori Agyemang Boadi.

The Mayor recently issued a two-week ultimatum to traders occupying pavements in the central business district to vacate or face forceful eviction.

Describing his approach as a “democratic military style,” the Mayor said he would not hesitate to unleash his team on traders who refuse to comply with the directive.

At a press conference, Mr. Agyemang Boadi expressed frustration over the inefficiency of involving the police in such operations, claiming that offenders often return to the streets shortly after being arrested.

Reacting to this on Metro TV’s Good Morning Ghana on Wednesday, April 16, Mr. Kwesi Pratt expressed shock that such a person passed the vetting process.

“I am completely shocked by this public display of lawlessness. I mean, extreme lawlessness. And for me, the most important question is: how did such a person get appointed as Municipal Chief Executive for Kumasi? How did he get appointed? Who interviewed him? That’s the critical question for me.”

“You understand, because from the way he’s talking, I mean, if you sit down with him for five minutes, it should be possible to tell what his orientation is. But he went through a system and got approval to become MCE of one of the biggest cities in Ghana. This is the shock,” he stated.

Mr. Pratt further indicated that he would be deeply surprised if the Kumasi Mayor remains in office after such a controversial statement, describing the conduct as unconstitutional.

“I will even be more scandalised if by tomorrow he’s still at post. If after this display he’s still in office, it will be a huge statement about the appointing authority—not so much about him, but about those keeping him there. This will not be tolerated anywhere,” he noted.