A Squatter Cannot Make Demands’ – Kumasi Mayor Defends Stadium Evacuation”
By: Adwoa Nyarko Asiamah | 29 July 2026
The Mayor of Kumasi, Richard Ofori Agyemang, has defended the ongoing eviction of traders around the Baaba Yara Sports Stadium, saying the exercise is necessary to improve the city’s appearance and bring order to the area.
Speaking on Pure FM, the Mayor said traders were given until December 2025 to move from the area, adding that he even extended the deadline to allow them more time to comply.
According to him, the surroundings of the stadium have become untidy and do not reflect the image of a major city like Kumasi. He said the Assembly has proposed a standard container design for traders who wish to continue operating there as part of efforts to make the area more organized.
The Mayor explained that traders who are unwilling to use the approved containers should leave the area since they do not own the land they occupy.
He also rejected claims that he has any financial interest in the container project, insisting that he is neither a welder nor involved in negotiations over the cost of the containers. He said his only interest is to ensure that the area is well planned and free from disorder.
Richard Ofori Agyemang further warned that traders who fail to meet the requirements by Friday will be removed.
“A squatter cannot make demands in such situations. You only comply,” he stated.
The Mayor acknowledged that some of the decisions needed to improve Kumasi may not be popular but maintained that they are necessary to make the city cleaner, more attractive and better organized.
He said he remains committed to achieving the vision he has for Kumasi and will continue to take decisions he believes are in the best interest of the city.
