The Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) has started a decongestion exercise in a bid to remove street traders from the Central Business District.
The operation is aimed at improving sanitation and reducing congestion.
On May 20th, a taskforce from the AMA in collaboration with personnel from the Ghana Police Service began the operation in removing unauthorized structures and street vendors who have taken over the pavements across major parts of the CBD.
The effort, according to Assembly officials, is part of their commitment to reduce congestion and promote unhindered vehicle and pedestrian movement while ensuring strict adherence to the city bylaws.
During the first day of the exercise, the taskforce with the support of the police gave maximum attention to highprone traffic areas surrounding the AMA Head Office. These areas included, Kinbu Road to the Railways, ECG Junction to the King Tackie Tawiah Statue, and Opera Square to Adabraka. All these areas are well known for heavy vehicular and pedestrian traffic due to vendors taking over the roadsides to market their products.
Traders and commuters have been admonished to cooperate and comply with the directives from the officials carrying out the exercise to avoid unnecessary confrontations.
Nonetheless, the mayor of Accra, Michael Allotey, has noted that goods seized during the decongestion exercise will be donated to the Ghana Prisons Service. He disclosed that unlike previous practices, the AMA is no longer going to aution confiscated items.
