Sixteen months in office as Mayor of Kumasi may not be enough time for a fair assessment of a leader in a commercial, cultural, densely populated city with varied habitation patterns.
However, so far, Hon. Richard Ofori Agyeman Boadi has written his name boldly in the sands of time.
His firmness, forthrightness, seriousness, and fairness make him a standout leader.
Since he assumed office as the political head of the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (KMA), he has been a darling of both staff and assembly members.
Undoubtedly, the public, staff, and assembly members share the same view of him, as his pursuit of sanity and development in the city has not gone unnoticed.
On Saturday, “King Zuba,” as he is fondly called by admirers, was in the news and trending across social and traditional media for yet another good reason: he was celebrating his 50th birthday.
Many residents in Kumasi, especially adults across various social classes, describe him as a resurgence of the late Nana Akwasi Agyeman “Okumkom,” the longest-serving Mayor of Kumasi.
One may loathe or like Nana Akwasi Agyeman for varied personal reasons. However, his singular contribution to the development of Kumasi, especially in ensuring sanity, was unparalleled.
Over the weekend, residents of Kumasi, as well as distant admirers, took to both traditional and social media to wish their quintessential leader and mentor a happy birthday.
They also prayed for divine guidance, wisdom, strength, protection, prosperity, and good health as he navigates the demands of leadership and life, especially in leading one of Ghana’s most demanding institutions.
Ms. Felicia Owusu Agyemang, a deputy director of KMA, led staff to the Mayor’s residence to wish him well and share a momentous toast before they dined with him.
BY Thomas Awuah Asem
