Some traders in Accra Central Business District have shockingly returned to their pavements just days after the Accra Mayor decongestion exercise.
The Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) began its major decongestion exercise on Tuesday, May 20, 2025.
The Mayor of Accra, Michael Kpakpo Allotey reinitiated a red-line initiative which was implemented under former Mayor Alfred Oko Vanderpuije but some traders are already defying the red line.
According to a trader, trading on the streets is their office’s and main source of livelihood hence are forced to return to do business.
Speaking to the media, the trader stated, “This place is our office. This is where we make a living. So, if you ask us to stay off the pavement without giving us alternative places to trade, we have no choice but to return to the pavements to trade.
“Even some of the AMA officials have their wives among us who are also engaged in trade here. So, it will be difficult to keep us off the pavements,” she stated.
The AMA task forces, accompanied by the Ghana Police Service, carried out operations to dismantle makeshift stalls, and unauthorised kiosks, and remove vendors from pavements and roadsides across key parts of the Central Business District.
They revealed that the operation which will last for 2 weeks is to enforce city bylaws, ease congestion, and ensure the safe movement of both pedestrians and vehicles.
Meanwhile, Linda Ocloo, the Greater Accra Regional Minister has stated traders who flout the decongestion directive will be fined ₵2000.
Linda Ocloo touring the CBD during the operation stated, “We are going to activate our task force to work 24 hours. They are going to draw a red line on the road, so with this, when you cross the line, you have a fee to pay, which is 1500gh, maximum 2000gh.
We are going to make sure that we have leaders in all the markets who will be monitoring, aside from the task force, and make sure that the right things are being done.”
Watch the video below:
Traders in Kaneshie and parts of Accra’s CBD are back in unauthorized spaces—just days after a decongestion exercise. Some tell Citi News’ Fauzu Masawudu they have no alternative trading spots.
What’s the long-term solution?#CitiNewsroom pic.twitter.com/8iyajqpCgJ
— CITI FM 97.3 (@Citi973) May 24, 2025
