Sustaining the Unsustainable: The case of Decongestion in Kumasi

‘We are starting today and surely we will sustain it. Those who will return will be arrested and prosecuted in court’- Mr. Samuel Sarpong, Kumasi Mayor Obviously, if there is any issue that has broke into full view and as such subjugated headlines in Ghana, it is the decongestion exercise in Kumasi. In no doubt, decongestion in Kumasi and Ghana at large is the most sensitive of all issues at attempts to ensure city aesthetics, an aspect of development to Central Business Districts (CBD) and other areas. Apart from the fact that illegal occupiers of corners of streets who are forced to vacate their place describe the exercise as not having a human face, a lot of politics has been read into it.

At long last the struggle for space has ended, one can now freely move about the CBD of Adum and Kejetia within some few minutes as compared to erstwhile state where pedestrians are packed to full capacity like sardine on a particular lane all because paths has been taken over by enthusiastic traders struggling to make a living in this ailing economy. However, the burning question lingers on ‘is this exercise sustainable?’ But where is the decongestion being talked about, hawkers are still on the pavements and streets in Kejetia. Are we really serious?

Decongestion in perspective

Certainly, one is not far from right to make the assertion that the decongestion exercise in Kumasi and possibly Accra is just a beginners show down and is bound to efface by time. The announcement of the possibility that the exercise will take place engendered a whole lot of hot debates among the local people in the streets and the radio stations. Despite the mixed and unpleasant feelings that generated, the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly unwavered by criticisms undertook the exercise and as at now the local economy of Kumasi is relatively beginning to see the relevance of this purposeful exercise. Believe it or not, this bold initiative undertaken by the KMA is a step in the right directions and therefore needs to be commended. The KMA in its initiative to make the exercise a reality has pumped in GH¢5,000.00 for Kumasi to restore and ameliorate the true image of ‘Garden City of West Africa’.

Is it sustainable?

It is striking to know that the most arduous task to perform in Oseikrom by local authorities is decongestion. KMA in the regime of New Patriotic Party tried and completely failed. Is it possible to happen again? In no uncertain terms, there is no cause for alarm when this exercise develops a deadlock. This is because KMA has again started the exercise on a wrong premise. As part of efforts to maintain the impact of this exercise, the KMA has collaborated with the security agencies including the Ghana Police Service, the military and Ghana Fire Service to take supreme charge of ensuring order and compliance. Also, ropes are being used to redirect pedestrians on their path in order not to intrude into the roads. These have been the strategies in use by KMA that I in particular have witnessed apart from the thuggery operations of the KMA Taskforce. In furtherance of these descriptions, decongestion in Kumasi and Accra has been preconceived to be the removal of traders and illegal occupants from streets and roads. But it should be known that decongestion in Ghana goes over and above the strategies they have employed. To this end, it can categorically be said that the efficacy of the decongestion exercise in Kumasi is completely lost and I am afraid it will possibly not stand the test of time. The fact that the people refused to voluntarily vacate their places and were forced out should send a clear indication that the actual problem of insanity in the cities goes beyond what has been perceived.

It is very amusing but very serious for the development of Kumasi. For how long can these security agencies with arms and ammunitions stand in the streets controlling the people? Can it be one, two or three years? It is highly impossible. And for how long can a ‘rope’ be used to partition movements of pedestrians from encroaching the roads? It is high time we set the record straight. From the way things are being done you does not need to be told that this exercise cannot stand the test of time. The thuggery nature of the decongestion exercise would never help as the people would come back to the streets in the evenings and on Sundays the policemen and soldiers are not there. Identified corrupt officials especially the KMA taskforce who receive tokens from adamant traders and drivers are fomenting the possible failure of the exercise. For the use of the ropes, I can say, without mincing words that KMA is not into serious business. As such the traders would even use the ropes to tie up their loads. An exercise that is vigorous from Monday to Saturday and completely dies out on Sundays where traders are back to their long established places to sell exist but for a short moment. Mr. Sarpong should search for a multi-pronged approach to make the exercise a sustainable one; for he cannot just arrest all the traders and prosecute them in court.

If there is any decongestion, then it is attitudinal decongestion. The mindset of the ordinary people in Kumasi needs absolute revival. This is made possible when the people (illegal occupiers) hopefully the majority, are aggressively educated to understand that this transformation of the regional capital is to the benefit of aesthetic beauty and overall development of Kumasi. This happens when a well prepared satellite markets have been established as alternatives to Adum and Kejetia to contain these traders. Further assistance would be required of KMA and that is the people in Kumasi and adjoining areas should be made to know of the potentials that exist in the satellite markets provided. The best achievement ever to be chalked is getting the understanding of the people to the relevance of the exercise and as such their preparedness to vacate their illegal settings. If things go unchanged, I am inclined to believe that this exercise would be a nine days’ wonder.

I would beseech KMA to get down to the brass tacks of the whole issue and salvage the hard-worn reputation of Kumasi that is gradually being tarnished with filth. The tentacles of decongestion should as a matter of urgency be stretched to cover the cleaning of the street of filth that has taken cover all places. The Garden City is now among the dirtiest cities, if not the first, in Ghana. The KMA as part of the exercises should build quality fences to demarcate pedestrian pavements from the roads and repair broken ones in the metropolis. Invest in ensuring that enough car parks are available to accommodate the increasing number of commercial vehicles to ease traffic jam.

The best is always expected for the development of Kumasi but one is always afraid if the unsustainable can be sustained. These and many others are the real issues that need to be tackled. Showing off your strength and superiority is but for a short time. It is ‘securities go, traders come’ jingle that is echoing in Kumasi. A major concern is that radio stations in the metropolis should readily help the KMA in their education efforts and stop their destructive criticisms that serves no practical usefulness to sustaining the exercise. Surely, when things are properly done and changed, Kumasi will merit the title ‘The Garden City of West Africa’. God bless Oseikrom! God bless Ghana!!

The author Stephen Yeboah (stephenyeboah110@yahoo.com) is at the Department of Planning, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi-Ghana.