KMA Stands Firm on Ban Despite Clash with Pragya Riders

In the face of clashes with tricycle (pragya) riders, the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (KMA) remains steadfast in its decision to uphold the ban on pragya operations within the central business district (CBD) of Kumasi.

Speaking on Opemsuo Radio’s Nkwantannanso with George Adjei on August 8, Hon. Patrick Kwame Frimpong, KMA Presiding Member, emphasized that the assembly’s resolve remains firm, asserting that further engagement with the riders is unnecessary due to their awareness of the restriction.

“We didn’t even need to have consultations with them because it is illegal. It is just like having a meeting with the leaders of ‘wee’ smokers because they are supposed to be arrested. But because KMA is a human institution, we had to consult them,” he remarked.

Initially, the assembly considered that some riders might not have been informed adequately, but the significant number of tricycles that participated in the protest on August 1 showcased the riders’ awareness of the law.

The recent ban, effective from August 1, restricted tricycle operations within areas such as Kejetia, Adum, Alabar, and Dr. Mensah in the central business district.

The enforcement of the ban resulted in the impoundment of 46 tricycles, triggering protests and conflicts that led to property damage at the KMA office and injuries to police officers.

Story by Adwoa S. Danso