Dozens of commercial tricycle operators, popularly known as Aboboyaa or Pragyia riders, brought parts of Kumasi to a standstill on Thursday, November 20, 2025, in a protest against alleged persistent harassment and extortion by officials of the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (KMA).
The angry riders parked their tricycles at major junctions across the metropolis, blocked colleagues from working, and compelled many to join the “Enough is Enough” demonstration.
Tricycles have over the years become a major means of intra-city transportation in Kumasi and other parts of the Ashanti Region. Two years ago, the KMA imposed restrictions banning the tricycles from operating in parts of the Central Business District, a decision that initially met strong resistance but was later complied with.
However, riders say the KMA task force has continued to harass and extort money from them despite their compliance.
Speaking during the protest, the Ashanti Regional Chairman of the National Union of Tricycle Operators, Ghana, Seidu Mubarak, accused the Assembly of turning a deaf ear to their numerous appeals.
“We are demonstrating against the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly because of continuous harassment, extortion, and total disregard for the plight of tricycle operators. We have complained several times, but nothing has changed,” he told journalists.
“That is why today we are submitting a petition to the KMA and the National Democratic Congress (NDC), because in their manifesto they promised to legalise and properly regulate tricycle operations across the country – a promise we are still waiting to see fulfilled,” he added.
The demonstrators later marched to the KMA premises to present their petition, demanding an immediate end to the alleged harassment and the full implementation of measures to regulate rather than suppress their operations.