A major decongestion exercise began yesterday, Sunday, February 1, in the Central Business District (CBD) in Accra by the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) as part of efforts to restore order, protect pedestrian safety, and regulate street trading.

The exercise, which began around 4:00 a.m., targeted particular zones, starting with the re-demarcation of approved areas under the Red Line Policy.

The Red Line Policy is a city management rule used by the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) to control street trading and pedestrian movement in the Central Business District.

Under the policy, a red line is drawn to create boundaries between permissible trading zones and no-trading areas on pavements and roads.

AMA officials 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.

The authorities also embarked on a cleaning exercise, during which gutters were cleared, stones and other obstructions on roads and walkways were removed, and piled-up trash at various points was cleared.

During a media engagement, the Mayor of Greater Accra, Michael Kpakpo Allotey, stated that his outfit had earlier engaged traders extensively ahead of the exercise.

He noted that although a decongestion exercise was carried out months before the current one, with demarcated areas set aside for traders, authorities allowed them to trade in unauthorised zones, including pavements, during the festive season to enable them to make the most of the period. However, now that the festivities are over, order has to be restored.

He explained that the city could no longer permit the sale of goods on roads and certain pavements, describing the situation as a major contributor to congestion and disorder in the business district.

“With the festive season over, we must restore order and ensure trading takes place in appropriate locations,” he said.

A major concern expressed by the Mayor was traders’ refusal to use spaces within designated market areas in the business centre, opting instead to move onto streets and walkways to sell their goods, which causes congestion and disorderliness in Accra.

“The Assembly has engaged traders extensively ahead of this exercise and has allocated approved spaces for them to operate. Unfortunately, many have refused to use these designated market spaces and have instead moved onto streets and walkways to sell their goods, which causes congestion and disorderliness in Accra’s Central Business District,” he expressed.

Mr Allotey stressed that the decongestion exercise was not a one-day operation but a sustained programme that would run throughout the year as part of efforts to make Accra cleaner and better organised.

The exercise follows the Mayor's announcement on January 22, at a press conference in Accra and later affirmed by the Greater Accra Regional Minister, Linda Ocloo on January 27, followed by further warnings and demolitions on January 30, 2026.

This exercise marks about the third decongeation exercise conducted by the current Mayor and other stakeholders.

On May 20, 2025, the AMA launched a city-wide operation at 4:00 a.m. to clear unauthorised trading from pavements and streets in Accra’s CBD. Areas included Kinbu Street, Makola, CMB, Circle, and Kaneshie. Mayor Allotey stressed it was necessary to restore order and sanitation.

It followed through with a reintroduction of the Rd Line Policy a day after, that is, May 21, redrawing boundaries on pavements to restrict trading to designated areas, citing fairness, pedestrian safety, and sanitation.

The decongestion also happened in Kumasi within that same period, as announced by the Mayor of Kumasi.

Mayor Richard Ofori Agyeman made the announcement, emphasizing the importance of restoring order and accessibility to public spaces.

In a press briefing, Mayor Agyeman revealed that the operation will initially target key areas, including the Kejetia Roundabout, also known as the Otumfuo Roundabout, and the Adehyeman area near the Kumasi Zoo.

He assured the public that the Assembly would not tolerate any further occupation of these spaces.

“We will ensure that everyone occupying those spaces is removed. Any metallic object placed on the street will be cleared,” Mayor Agyeman said.

The Mayor also made it clear that previous announcements had been made regarding the exercise, and he stressed that the KMA would no longer entertain unauthorised activities in these areas.

“I will not make any more announcements. Everyone knows we will not entertain them there,” he stated firmly.

It is worth recalling that upon assuming office, Mayor Agyeman had issued a stern warning to traders operating on pavements within Kumasi’s central business district, urging them to vacate or risk facing sanctions, including the confiscation of goods.

However, the mayor acknowledged that the previous methods of dealing with the issue, such as confiscating goods and making arrests, had not been effective, as traders continued to return.

The mayor explained that these acts of indiscipline had contributed significantly to congestion in the city, further complicating the situation.

As a result, the mayor has warned that more severe measures, including lashing, may be used as a deterrent for traders who persist in selling on the pavements.