The new Metropolitan Chief Executive for Kumasi, Richard Ofori Agyemang Boadi, says the Assembly may resort to corporal punishment in dealing with congestion in the city.

He observed that several attempts by former city mayors to instil sanity in the Central Business District have failed due to lack of political will and the failure of the police to arrest and prosecute people violating bye-laws.

"When we say leave this space and you don't leave the place. When I come there and my boys are with me and you are not lucky, we will beat you", he insisted.

Mr. Boadi indicated that his routine tour of the city will include a group of men who will administer instant punishment.

"If I am alone, you will be lucky. But if I have my 10 boys in their pick up with me and their whips, trust me, we will beat you. Do that which is right and lawful", he added.

The Kumasi Metropolitan Chief Executive, after assumption of office, signaled all persons occupying pavements and unauthorised spaces in the Central Business District of the city to vacate ahead of a major decongestion exercise on Wednesday.
 
The newly-confirmed city mayor says his administration intends to use sustainable means to ensure a lasting solution to the problem.

The Kumasi Mayor says persons who have erected metal structures on the roads for their trading activities will also be dealt with.

"If anybody has erected a metal post on a tyre rim and it is on asphalt, that one take steps to pick it. After 14 days from today, we will work at night and every metal we see will be given to scrap dealers for free", he added.