A 24-hour city-wide cleaning initiative is set to begin soon, as announced by the Mayor of Accra, Michael Allotey.

Speaking to the media, he shared that the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) plans to utilize the Borla Macho III tricycle to drive the operation.

He explained that the Borla Macho III tricycle donated by a Ghanaian electro-mechanical engineering firm, Anointed Engineering Services Ltd, has a hydraulic system that will enhance the efficiency of cleaning activities.

“This morning we are here not to sell a generator but to donate our special product, the Borla Macho III, to the AMA… It’s a one-man-operated tricycle with a hydraulic system that lifts and empties bins, compresses waste internally, and tips at dumping sites without manual contact.

"It’s the perfect tool for urban sanitation, and we believe, as the city improves with the vision of the AMA; this product can help bring sanity into our sanitation system,” he stated.”

The government in recent times has become stern on solving the country's sanitation and decongestion challenges.

The Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (KMA) embarked on a decongestion exercise in the Central Business District (CBD) in April this year.

The Chief Executive of the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly, Richard Ofori Agyemang Boadi, issued a stern caution to traders operating on the pavements.

“Kumasi should expect cooperation, discipline. There is a lot of indiscipline in our metropolis. In all humility, I am going to ensure strict compliance with the Assembly to the by-law that manages our city. If you are selling on the pavement, adjust yourself."

“If you are in the middle of any dual carriageway road, especially within the central business district, please get out of the place. Because from Wednesday, we will get on the street and make sure that we clear Kumasi from all the filth that we see."

“With the decongestion, we will not apply the forces of military men. Everybody wants to sell at Adum, so we will find some ingenious way to keep them in Adum and decongest Adum,” he said.Before the exercise, vehicular movement in the area was at a standstill, as some traders sold their items in the middle of the streets, preventing pedestrians and vehicles from barely moving freely.

Also in Accra, the Accra Mayor, targeting street traders with a 3-day decongestion exercise targeting street traders.

The first phase of the exercise launched on Tuesday, May 20, targeting areas around the AMA Head Office, including Kinbu Road to Railways, ECG Junction to the King Tackie Tawiah Statue, and Opera Square to Adabraka.

Amid the concerns raised by affected traders, the Greater Accra Market Association (GAMA) has declared strong support for the Accra Metropolitan Assembly’s ongoing decongestion campaign in the Central Business District (CBD).

The issues of congestion compelled the transport operators to threaten a strike action against the government and the Ghana Police Service

They gave authorities until Monday, May 19, to act or face a nationwide protest. However, the strike action was not executed.

According to the operators, the growing encroachment of roads and pavements by traders poses serious safety risks and disrupts the free flow of traffic.

They are demanding the immediate enforcement of the Road Traffic Regulations, 2012 (L.I. 2180), particularly those relating to trading on roads and pavements.

Under Ghana’s Road Traffic Regulations, 2012 (L.I. 2180), specific provisions prohibit trading activities that obstruct pedestrian and vehicular movement.

These regulations are designed to ensure the safety and free flow of traffic on public roads and pavements.