The Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (KMA) has reaffirmed its commitment to enforcing a ban on tricycle operations within the Central Business District (CBD) following a violent confrontation between operators and security forces.
The restriction, which was officially established in April 2023, aims to reduce chronic traffic congestion and frequent road accidents in the heart of Kumasi. Tensions escalated on August 1, 2023, when some operators ignored the boundaries at the Race Course and blocked major roads, prompting the police to use warning shots to disperse the crowd after being pelted with stones.
According to Randy Wilson, Head of Transport at the KMA, the assembly initially focused on education and dialogue before moving to strict enforcement. While seven operators were recently arrested and subsequently released on bail to act as “ambassadors” for compliance, the KMA remains firm that the ban will not be lifted.
The assembly has instructed operators to submit any formal grievances in writing rather than resorting to street protests, emphasizing that the rule of law must prevail to ensure order in the metropolis.
In addition to targeting the operators, the KMA has issued a stern warning to the general public. Mr. Wilson clarified that any commuter who hires a tricycle for transport within the earmarked CBD zones is technically in contravention of the law.
Residents are encouraged to use tricycles only outside the restricted radius to avoid legal consequences and to support the city’s efforts to streamline commercial transport within its busiest economic hub.