KMA warns squatters to leave willingly to avoid being treated as criminals

Mr Richard Ofori Boadi, the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (KMA) Chief Executive, has warned squatters living around the Asafo Interchange and its surroundings to vacate the place willingly before they are treated as criminals.

The warning comes in the wake of the first demolition exercise last week, during which many of the affected squatters alleged that they were not properly informed or served with notices in advance.

Reacting to those claims, Mr Boadi said the Assembly had now made its position clear and that the next phase would be carried out with more structured engagement to ensure people understood the process.

Speaking to journalists on the planned second phase of the demolition exercise of the area, he explained that the initial plan was to clear only a portion of the space to prevent flooding and improve drainage in some parts of the area.

However, what the Assembly encountered on the ground during the first exercise was different from expectations.

He noted that preliminary investigations revealed that the area had become a hotspot for criminal activities, including prostitution, drug peddling and gambling, as well as other unlawful acts that threaten public safety and expose residents and commuters to danger.

In addition, he indicated that some structures and informal settlements were being used as hiding places for criminals, making policing and movement around the enclave difficult for security personnel.

Mr Boadi stated that these revelations made it necessary for the KMA to demolish unauthorized structures from the area.

He said this would enable the Assembly to redesign the space in a way that supported orderly development, reduced criminal tendencies, and allowed for better visibility for both the public and enforcement agencies.

He added that the KMA had already issued an evacuation order to the squatters and that anyone who refused to leave or who attempted to resist the demolition would be dealt with as a criminal under the law.

Mr Boadi stressed that the Assembly would not tolerate recalcitrance, especially where unlawful activities were reported to be ongoing.

“It is time to shape Kumasi to its former glory as the “Garden City of West Africa”, he said, underscoring that the demolition exercise formed part of efforts to reclaim the environment, improve sanitation and create a safer and more appealing urban landscape for residents.

GNA