KMA Clears Air on Excavator Release Claims: “Mayor Did Not Authorize Any Release”

The Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (KMA) has officially responded to media reports suggesting that the Mayor of Kumasi, Hon. Richard Ofori-Agyeman Boadi, ordered the release of seized excavators. In a press release issued on Tuesday, the Assembly described such claims as false and misleading, urging the public to disregard them.

Below are the key clarifications provided by the KMA:

1. Excavators Used for Emergency Only:
   After the fire outbreak at Adum Railway on March 21, 2025, the KMA, with assistance from the Ashanti Regional Coordinating Council (ARCC), temporarily used some seized excavators to support emergency response—breaking down walls and clearing paths for firefighters and emergency personnel.
2. Structural Assessments Conducted:
   Experts were contracted to assess the structural integrity of the fire-affected buildings. Their technical report recommended that the buildings be demolished for safety reasons.
3. Unauthorized Reconstruction Began:
   While the Assembly was preparing for a safe demolition process, some traders began reconstructing structures on the site without KMA’s approval or consultation.
4. Mayor Requested Excavators for Demolition:
   To prevent further risk to human life, the Mayor formally requested that the seized excavators be used only for demolition of the dangerous buildings.
5. Forestry Commission Raised Concerns:
   After the Chief Executive Officer of the Forestry Commission raised issues over the deployment of the equipment, the Mayor halted the demolition and ordered the immediate return of the machines.
6. No Order to Release Excavators:
   The KMA made it clear that at no point did the Mayor give instructions or assign any official to release seized excavators for private use or other non-official purposes.

The Assembly is therefore calling on the media to verify facts before publication and to avoid circulating unverified information that could damage reputations and misinform the public.

The statement was issued by the Public Relations Unit of the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly and distributed to all media outlets.