The Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) has begun a major decongestion exercise in the Central Business District (CBD), starting with the re-demarcation of approved trading areas under the Red Line policy, which restricts trading activities to designated spaces.
The operation, which commenced on Sunday at about 4:00 a.m., focused on restoring order along key commercial corridors by enforcing boundaries that separate permissible trading points from no-trading areas on pavements.
The exercise also featured citywide clean-up activities including washing of streets and the removal of stones as well as other obstructions that had been placed on streets and walkways.
As part of the re-demarcation, the Assembly marked sections around the Liberty House branch of GCB Bank PLC at Kantamanto, extending along the pavement toward the Greater Accra Regional Police Command, as no-trading zones.
Speaking during the operation, the Mayor of Accra, Hon. Michael Kpakpo Allotey, said the Assembly had engaged traders extensively ahead of the exercise as well as allowed roadside trading to continue through the Christmas festivities and beyond to enable traders to benefit from the seasonal rush.
He said the city could no longer permit the continued sale of goods on roads and certain pavements, describing the situation as a growing source of congestion and disorder in the business district.
The Mayor explained that while some traders had available space inside markets, many had declined to use those spaces and instead moved onto streets and walkways to sell.
With the festive season over, he said the Assembly was moving to restore order by ensuring trading took place in appropriate locations.
He described the decongestion as a sustained programme rather than a one-day exercise, stating that it would run throughout the year as part of efforts to make Accra cleaner and better organised.
He added that the Assembly would enforce the restrictions consistently and would not allow trading on streets and pavements going forward.
He also cautioned that persons permitted to operate near pavements would be required to comply strictly with the Red Line policy, and would not be allowed to cross beyond the approved boundaries as the Assembly maintains enforcement across the year.
