A former New Patriotic Party (NPP) Chairman for Afigya Kwabre South, Odeneho Kwaku Appiah, popularly known as COKA, has criticised the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (KMA) boss for allegedly endorsing the assault of traders as part of a city clean-up effort.
In a strongly-worded post shared on his social media pages on April 16, COKA affirmed his support for keeping Kumasi—the Garden City of Ghana and the seat of the Asantehene—clean, but rejected what he described as “instant justice” being meted out to traders on the streets.
His reaction comes in the wake of recent comments by the Kumasi Mayor, who reportedly justified the actions of city taskforce members accused of physically assaulting traders for operating in unauthorised areas. The Mayor’s stance has sparked outrage among residents and political figures, with critics arguing that the use of force is unacceptable.
While acknowledging the need to maintain discipline and order in the city, COKA cautioned the Mayor against authorising the use of violence.
“In doing so, I do not think the solution is beating our traders who may commit offenses on the street. Such instant justice is an attribute of a coup leader,” he stated, adding that the Mayor, having been appointed and later elected, has no legal mandate to “ask your boys to beat our traders.”
He further warned that such a strategy was prone to abuse and would only remind Ghanaians of what he called “the dark days” of Ghana’s political past.
“I know your party has a history of beating women in the street, so please don’t remind us of the 90s,” COKA said, referencing past incidents of political violence. “Be reminded that we are in a democratic society and there are rules and regulations governing the arrest and prosecution of law offenders.”
COKA urged the Mayor to adopt lawful and humane methods in addressing street trading and sanitation issues in Kumasi, stressing that violence was not the answer.
“We will not sit in Kumasi and allow you to take the law into your hands and beat our women in the street. Be advised,” he concluded.
