Choicenewsonline Your Choice Is Here
The Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (KMA) has firmly refuted media reports suggesting that the Mayor of Kumasi, Hon. Richard Ofori-Agyeman Boadi, ordered the release of seized excavators. In a press release issued by the Assembly on Tuesday, April 29, 2025, the KMA described the reports circulating on some media platforms as “inaccurate and misleading.”
According to the statement, following the devastating fire outbreak at Adum Railway on March 21, 2025, the Assembly sought support from the Ashanti Regional Coordinating Council (ARCC) to access some of the excavators that had been previously seized, in order to manage the emergency.
“These machines were essential in our efforts to clear blocked paths, break walls, and make way for firefighters and emergency personnel to reach critical areas,” the release noted.
In the aftermath of the blaze, the Assembly engaged technical experts to conduct structural integrity tests on buildings affected by the fire. The results from these assessments recommended that the damaged structures be demolished due to safety concerns.
However, the KMA observed that some traders had begun reconstructing the buildings without authorization or clearance from city authorities. “To protect public safety, the Honourable Mayor made a request for some of the seized excavators to be used solely for the demolition of the structurally unsound buildings,” the statement added.
The Assembly clarified that the move was never intended to release the equipment for private or unauthorized use. It further noted that once the Chief Executive Officer of the Forestry Commission expressed concern over the use of the machinery, the Mayor immediately halted the demolition exercise and ordered that the excavators be returned.
“The Honourable Mayor has not directed or assigned any official to release seized excavators within his jurisdiction,” the Assembly emphasized.
The KMA is urging media houses to be accurate in their reportage and to seek official clarification before publishing such sensitive information.
The statement was issued by the Public Relations Unit of the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly and copied to all media houses.
