The Accra Metropolitan Assembly's (AMA) major decongestion in Accra will begin today, Tuesday, May 20.

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The initiative, a collaboration between the AMA and the Korle Klottey Municipal Assembly, will target areas around the AMA Head Office, including Kinbu Road to Railways, ECG Junction to the King Tackie Tawiah Statue, and Opera Square to Adabraka.

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Speaking to the media, the Mayor of Accra, Mr. Allotey, stated that the exercise forms part of the Mahama-led administration's agenda to improve urban mobility and decongest the city.

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“There’s no time for empty promises. From the day I took office, I made a commitment to myself: ‘I’ll make sure my car is clean.’ It’s a personal promise, but today, I am making that promise to all of us. The streets are not for selling. They are places for cars, not for trade.”

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“The pavements have become overcrowded, and now they occupy almost half of the streets. If I wait for something bad to happen, they might even turn against the mayor of this city,” he added.

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On Monday, May 19, Michael Kpakpo Allotey met with street hawkers in the Central Business District (CBD) ahead of the exercise.

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The engagement was aimed at restoring orderliness during the anticipated exercise.

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“I am pleading with you to assist us in cleaning up the city and restoring order. We all want a better and more organised environment, and cooperation is vital in achieving that goal," Michael Kpakpo Allotey noted during the meeting.

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The Mayor of Accra has warned that the AMA will sanction individuals who flout the directive.

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“As the mayor of Accra, I cannot allow this to continue. Starting on Tuesday, we will begin the exercise. Please understand, we are not targeting anyone personally." The decongestion exercise will begin from Okaishie through Circle and Kaneshie.

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Also, in some parts of the country, the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (KMA) embarked on a decongestion exercise in the Central Business District (CBD) in April this year.

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Meanwhile, transport operators in Ghana have issued a stern warning to the government and the Ghana Police Service, demanding immediate enforcement of the Road Traffic Regulations, 2012 (L.I. 2180), particularly those relating to trading on roads and pavements.

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They gave authorities until Monday, May 19, to act or face a nationwide protest. According to the operators, the growing encroachment of roads and pavements by traders poses serious safety risks and disrupts the free flow of traffic.

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

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

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