“I’m a Street Boy, I Know Kumasi’s Real Issues” – KMA Mayor King Zuba
Kumasi Mayor defends decongestion drive, says his street background gives him insight into city's real challenges
- King Zuba says his street roots give him a unique understanding of Kumasi’s challenges
- The mayor defends his decongestion efforts
- Decongestion exercise has shown positive results so far
Hon. Richard Ofori Agyemang Boadi, popularly known as King Zuba, the Mayor of the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (KMA), has reaffirmed his deep connection to the city he governs, insisting that his roots give him an edge in understanding and addressing Kumasi’s complex challenges.
Speaking on the Ghana Se Sen Morning Show on Lawson TV, King Zuba declared, “I’m a street boy. I know Kumasi’s real issues.”
According to him, his background as a local boy who grew up in the heart of the city means he understands the “cranus and onus” of the Kumasi streets—a local way of saying he knows the inner workings and daily struggles of the people.
The mayor’s comments come as part of an ongoing effort to decongest the central business district of Kumasi. The initiative, which targets traders operating along pavements and unauthorized areas, has sparked debate across the city.
Some have labeled his methods heavy-handed, calling them “patapaa”, a Ghanaian slang term suggesting the use of brute or uncompromising force.
Addressing these concerns, King Zuba clarified: “I’m patapaa small, but I haven’t used patapaa at the office. If it gets to the point where we need to be patapaa, we will deploy it.”
He emphasized that the current decongestion exercise is not about using force arbitrarily but about restoring order and fairness.
“The problem goes to those who have big shops and they are suffering. I have the responsibility to protect those people,” he said.
“There are some things going on, and if you act, they say you are doing patapaa. But this decongestion exercise is to protect those doing legitimate business.”
Earlier, the mayor issued a two-week ultimatum to pavement traders to vacate their spots or face potential sanctions—including controversial talk of being “lashed.”
When asked about that, he explained the comment was conditional and has since been rescinded. “It was a conditional clause—if, after the two weeks, we had to step up. But I have rescinded that statement,” he said.
Despite limited resources, King Zuba has begun the operation with a lean team of just eight security officers.
He noted that deploying more police or military would incur a huge cost the Assembly cannot currently afford. “We are managing with what we have,” he added.
So far, the mayor says the exercise has seen positive results, with improved order and movement in parts of the city.
His ultimate goal, he says, is simple but ambitious: “I’m doing patapaa to protect Kumasi and restore Kumasi to its former glory.”
