The Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (KMA) has resumed its demolition and decongestion exercise at the Asafo Interchange, the area behind COCOBOD and within the Takoradi Flour Mill enclave, as part of efforts to reclaim public spaces and enforce city bylaws.

This comes after city guards and security personnel were attacked during an earlier enforcement operation on Wednesday afternoon, July 8.

On Friday morning, demolition teams, backed by heavy security, returned to the affected areas to continue the operation.

Some traders and occupants were voluntarily dismantling their kiosks and containers ahead of the demolition, while others looked on as excavators pulled down structures.

Checks by JoyNews indicate that more than 100 structures are expected to be removed during the exercise.

Speaking to journalists, Kumasi Mayor Richard Ofori Agyeman said the land belongs to the Ghana Railway Authority, and disclosed that the Assembly has scheduled a meeting with the Authority's top management in Accra to address the persistent encroachment.

"This place belongs to the Ghana Railway Authority, so we have arranged a meeting with its top managers in Accra next week. We want them to appreciate the requirements of our city and discuss the demolition of structures and buildings so that these kinds of situations do not recur," he said.

The Mayor said the outcome of the meeting would be communicated to the Ministers for Local Government, Transport and Lands for further action.

"When we are done with the meeting, whatever the outcome, we will prepare a brief and submit it to the Minister for Local Government, the Minister for Transport, under whose ministry the Railway Authority falls, and the Minister for Lands," he stated.

Mr Agyeman also questioned the legality of some land leases allegedly issued by the Ghana Railway Authority for permanent structures on the land.

"I have seen leases purportedly issued by the Railway Authority for some permanent structures, but I am not sure whether granting such leases falls within the Authority's mandate.

I don't know whether the Ministry of Transport has the power to issue land leases in Kumasi. That is something we want clarified," he added.

The Assembly says the exercise forms part of its broader campaign to decongest Kumasi and restore order in the city's central business district.