Mayor Tasks Media to Sensitise Residents on Kumasi’s Development Challenges and Plans
The Mayor of Kumasi and Chief Executive Officer of the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (KMA), Mr. Richard Ofori Boadi, popularly known as Zuba, has called on the media to intensify public education on the city’s development programmes to ensure effective implementation and public cooperation.
Mr. Ofori Boadi made the appeal during an interaction with journalists at the KMA headquarters in Kumasi, where he outlined the key challenges facing the Assembly and underscored the importance of media support in helping residents understand government policies and planned projects.
He revealed that the Assembly is still burdened by a substantial legacy debt, which stood at GH¢142 million. Although negotiations with creditors have helped reduce the amount, an outstanding judgment debt of approximately GH¢100 million remains after the settlement of 1,452 cases. According to the Mayor, the financial situation continues to constrain the Assembly’s ability to undertake critical development initiatives.
Sanitation, he noted, remains one of the most serious challenges confronting the metropolis. The city, he said, generates about 3,000 tonnes of waste daily, yet lacks adequate disposal sites. He disclosed that an estimated €600 million would be required to develop additional waste disposal facilities to meet the city’s growing needs.
Mr. Ofori Boadi explained that efforts to clear traders from pavements cannot be fully enforced until the completion of Phase Two of the Kejetia Redevelopment Project and the Krofrom Market. As part of measures to improve sanitation, he announced that night-time street sweeping would be suspended from February and replaced with a morning sweeping schedule. He therefore urged traders to cooperate by allowing sanitation officers access to market centres.
On infrastructure development, the Mayor announced that several major projects are scheduled for 2026. These include the construction of roads from the Santasi Roundabout to the Asokwa Interchange, the building of a new bridge, and the removal of all containers between the Ahodwo and Santasi roundabouts to facilitate the development of a dual carriageway.
He further disclosed that about 75 per cent of the Suame Interchange lies within the KMA’s jurisdiction and expressed confidence that, with support from central government, work on the project would soon resume.
In the area of security and social amenities, Mr. Ofori Boadi said the Assembly has installed 240 solar-powered streetlights across the metropolis to enhance night-time security. He also revealed that the President has pledged to construct an ultra-modern theatre for Kumasi, with four sites already earmarked for consideration.
The Mayor announced additional plans, including the construction of a new paediatric centre, a dormitory block for Kumasi Islamic Senior High School, and improvements in water and sanitation coverage. Currently, water supply coverage in Kumasi stands at 84.4 per cent, while water-closet sanitation coverage is at 68 per cent.
He emphasised that maintaining a clean city is critical to attracting investment, noting that no investor would be willing to invest in an unclean environment. He reiterated that sanitation remains a top priority for the Assembly.
Mr. Ofori Boadi concluded by appealing to the media to partner with the Assembly in educating residents about its programmes, stressing that collective responsibility and public awareness are essential to building a safe, smart and investment-friendly Kumasi.
Supporting the Mayor’s remarks, the Metro Development Planner, Mr. Charles Kwasi Agyei, presented key statistics on Kumasi’s growth, projecting the city’s population to reach about 500,000 by 2029. He also highlighted a 51 per cent female labour force participation rate and noted significant expansions in education, health and road infrastructure across the metropolis.
