The Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) has directed operators of motorised tricycles, popularly known as Aboboyaa, to stop using the inner lanes of roads within Accra as part of measures aimed at improving road safety.
Under the new directive announced on August 20, 2026, operators are expected to use designated side roads where such routes are available. Where no side road exists, they must remain on the outer lane and ensure their tricycles are fitted with reflectors.
The directive also requires operators to wear reflective clothing, particularly to improve their visibility at night.
Accra Mayor Michael Kpakpo Allotey said the restriction is intended to reduce the risks associated with the movement of tricycles on busy roads.
The AMA’s instruction can be summarised into three main requirements:
Aboboyaa operators should use designated side roads where available.
Where there is no side road, they should keep to the outer lane.
Tricycles must be fitted with reflector stickers, while operators are expected to wear reflective clothing.
The Assembly has given operators until the end of August 2026 to install the required reflector stickers.
Allotey said the objective is to improve the visibility of the tricycles and reduce the likelihood of accidents involving them.
Aboboyaa operators play an important role in parts of Accra, particularly in the collection and transportation of household and commercial waste.
However, the use of tricycles on busy roads has also raised concerns about traffic management and road safety.
Recent reporting has highlighted the scale of congestion created by refuse-carrying Aboboyaa on parts of the Mallam–McCarthy Hill corridor.
In June, hundreds of tricycles and waste trucks were reported to have formed long queues around the McCarthy Hills dumping site, with the congestion affecting movement along the corridor.
The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA) also raised concerns in July about the roadworthiness of Aboboyaa operating in Accra.
These issues provide important context for the AMA’s latest directive, although the Assembly has specifically framed its new restrictions around road safety and visibility.
The current AMA directive is more specific: it focuses on which part of the road Aboboyaa operators should use and the visibility measures they must adopt.
Operators have until August 31, 2026, effectively the end of August, to comply with the reflector requirement.
The AMA has warned that those who fail to meet the requirement will face sanctions.
