The Mayor of Kumasi, Richard Ofori Agyemang Boadi, popularly known as King Zuba, who serves as the Metropolitan Chief Executive of the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (KMA), says the Assembly is working with the Ghana Railway Development Authority to convert the recently cleared site at Adum, near COCOBOD, into a transport hub.
The area, which was cleared in a recent demolition exercise, is currently bare land with rubble, waste and a few makeshift blue-tarp structures as seen in video footage.
Speaking to the media, Mr. Boadi said the Assembly is determined to prevent squatters from re-occupying the land.
"After the demolition, we engaged with the Ghana Railway Authority at the headquarters in Accra. We have indicated that we don't want the squatters to come back and re-occupy the place. So as early as possible, something must happen," he said.
He explained that the KMA will only permit a transport-related facility on the site to help address the city's transport challenges.
"As a transport facility, we at the Assembly would only permit a transport structure. So we are looking at transportation. And we want the kind of design that will not be difficult for us to have our rail lines constructed, so that in the future when we want to enjoy rail transport within the Kumasi metropolis, we won't have any impediments," he noted.
According to the Mayor, discussions with the Ghana Railway Development Authority have advanced and construction of temporary transport infrastructure is expected to begin soon.
"So far with the Ghana Railway Development Authority, I'm sure we have gone far. Very soon we should see some construction of some temporary structures, pavements to help us manage our transport situation," he added.
On who will occupy and manage the facility, the MCE clarified that it will be for transport operators but owned and run by the Railway Authority.
"It's going to be a transport hub. Individual transport operators would have it for use, but it will be owned by the Ghana Railway Development Authority, not by us. It will be run by the Ghana Railway Development Authority," Mr. Boadi said.