Six police personnel sustained injuries during a violent clash with rickshaw riders, known as "pragyia riders," outside the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (KMA) in the Ashanti Regional capital on Monday.
The confrontation erupted when the riders attempted to retrieve their seized rickshaws but were met with fierce resistance from the police.
The clash stemmed from a ban imposed by the KMA, which prohibited the "pragyia riders" from entering the Central Business District of Kumasi starting from August 1st.
The ban aimed to alleviate vehicular and pedestrian congestion that had become a prominent issue in areas like Kejetia, Adum, Alabar, and Dr Mensah.
Henrietta Afia Konadu, the KMA's Public Relations Officer (PRO), explained that the riders had initially blocked the Suame stretch leading to the Central Business District, prompting police intervention.
Subsequently, the riders moved to the KMA yard in an attempt to reclaim their confiscated rickshaws. When denied, clashes erupted, leading to injuries.
During the confrontation, the aggrieved riders resorted to pelting stones, causing damage to the windshields of two KMA staff vehicles.
In response, the military was called in to assist the police in quelling the riot. As a result, six police personnel were wounded and are currently receiving medical treatment at the KMA clinic.
The situation escalated further when the military intervened, managing to disperse the mob.
In total, 12 riders were apprehended by the authorities. The clash underscores the tensions surrounding the ban and the broader issues of urban congestion and regulation that cities like Kumasi face.