Chaos Erupts in Kumasi: KMA Demolition Sparks Violent Resistance, Military Officer Injured
A KMA demolition exercise at Kumasi's Asafo overpass turned chaotic, injuring three taskforce members, including a soldier. Squatters resisted the removal of unauthorized structures, citing lack of notice and impact on livelihoods, while the KMA emphasized the need to prevent flooding and curb illegal activities.
A demolition exercise conducted by the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (KMA) taskforce at the Asafo overpass in Kumasi erupted into chaos on Wednesday afternoon, resulting in injuries to three taskforce members, including a military officer. The incident occurred as squatters fiercely resisted the pulling down of unauthorised structures located behind the COCOBOD building.
The KMA taskforce, comprising KMA members and supported by police and military personnel, moved into the area to clear makeshift shacks and wooden kiosks. According to the Assembly, these structures were not only illegally erected but were also obstructing the free flow of the Subin River, a significant factor contributing to perennial flooding in various parts of the metropolis. Additionally, Kumasi Mayor Richard Ofori-Agyemang Boadi highlighted that the area had become a hub for numerous illegal activities, including prostitution, drug abuse, and other vices, posing a serious security threat that could not be allowed to continue. The demolition forms part of KMA’s broader efforts to decongest the Kumasi Central Business District and enforce essential building and sanitation laws.
Tensions rapidly escalated when occupants of the structures attempted to prevent the officials from carrying out the exercise. As the taskforce commenced pulling down structures, residents began pelting stones, sticks, and other objects at the team. The attack forced the taskforce members to retreat temporarily to regroup and avoid further injury, even after a warning shot was fired by one of the military officers. In the ensuing chaos, two taskforce pickups and the excavator being used for the demolition suffered significant damage, with windscreens shattered and tyres deflated.
Amidst the debris, affected traders were seen salvaging their wares. They vehemently argued that they had not been served prior notice of the demolition, stating that the exercise would severely impact their livelihoods. Many expressed despair, questioning where they were expected to go and sell to feed their families, with some claiming to have occupied the space for years. Some occupants also asserted that the land had been temporarily allocated to them by a private developer identified as Ali, insisting on their authorization to occupy the space.
Following the suspension of the exercise, Mayor Ofori-Agyemang Boadi confirmed that the Ashanti Regional Police Command had received a report on the incident and would initiate investigations to bring the perpetrators of the violence to justice. He also provided an update on the injured personnel, stating that they were in stable condition and had been issued medical forms to seek treatment at the hospital. Despite the violent resistance, the Mayor stressed the KMA's unwavering commitment to the operation, vowing to mobilize a stronger team to resume the demolition exercise and apprehend those responsible for the attacks to restore sanity to the area.