The Mayor of Kumasi, Richard Ofori Agyemang, has defended the ongoing demolition of structures at Asafo Bayak enclave, describing the operation as a necessary step to eliminate criminal activities and improve public safety in the Ashanti Regional capital.
Speaking during an inspection of the demolition exercise, the mayor said over 700 structures had already been pulled down, with more expected to be demolished as authorities work toward clearing the entire enclave.
“We are supposed to clear the whole enclave, but we are working with logistics,” he said. “If time does not permit us to finish today, we will come back and complete the exercise.”
According to the mayor, the Bayak settlement had become a centre for prostitution, the sale of hard drugs, and a safe haven for criminals.
He said the area had long been identified by residents as a source of insecurity.
“People in Kumasi have known about Bayak for years,” he said. “If you have monitored the local media, you can see the excitement surrounding the decision to demolish this place. This is something Kumasi has been waiting for about 15 years.”
The Kumasi Mayor said the demolition forms part of a broader effort to rid the city of criminal hideouts.
He disclosed that other locations, including Tinker Island, Columbia and several other areas, would be targeted in phases over the coming months.
“Whichever place serves as a haven for criminal activities, we will deal with it,” he said. “I have four years in office, and by the time I am done, I intend to get rid of all such places.”
The mayor also revealed that the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly had lodged a formal complaint with the Ashanti Regional Police Command over allegations that some individuals linked to the illegal activities including police officers and assembly members were involved in operating facilities within the settlement.
He commended the Regional Police Commander for responding swiftly to the complaint, saying investigations had already begun.
“I want to leave the matter to the police so as not to interfere with their investigations,” he said.
Officials from the Ghana Water Limited and the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) also joined the exercise to address what authorities described as widespread illegal utility connections at the site.
According to the Mayor, Ghana Water officials were disconnecting illegal connections after discovering significant leakages from pipelines, while the ECG had retrieved more than 100 electricity meters believed to have been stolen and installed within the enclave.
“The presence of these agencies shows that the illegal activities here affected many sectors of society,” he said.
Responding to criticism that the demolition could affect his political support, Mr. Ofori Agyemang expressed confidence that residents would back the exercise.
“This place has been a burden on Kumasi for about 15 years,” he said. “The people who want to live in a safe and secure community will appreciate the work we are doing and support us.”
The demolition exercise forms part of the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly’s broader urban renewal and public safety agenda aimed at dismantling illegal settlements identified as centres of criminal activity.
Source: Starrfm.com.gh/Isaac Justice Bediako
