All illegal structures at Circle Neoplan in Accra have been removed as part of the Accra Metropolitan Assembly's (AMA) decongestion exercise.

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The 3-day decongestion exercise launched on Tuesday, May 20, targets street traders in the country's capital, Accra.

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The first phase focused on areas around the AMA Head Office, including Kinbu Road to Railways, ECG Junction to the King Tackie Tawiah Statue, and Opera Square to Adabraka.Today, Wednesday, May 21, the AMA extended the operation to Circle Neoplan.

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Prior to the decongestion exercise which began yesterday, the Accra mayor engaged traders, urging them to leave the streets voluntarily.Meanwhile, the Mayor of Accra, Michael Kpakpo Allotey, has assured that the operation will persist until the roads are fully cleared of vendors occupying the pavements.

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“This exercise is not a nine-day wonder; we are on the street till we make sure that the roads are clear. We are not done. For the next hour, we are going back to the street. From here we are going to Circle, and if there is more strength, we will go to Kaneshie. Then we continue tomorrow,” the mayor stated.

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Despite concerns by some of the traders who sought to counter the decongestion exercise, a section of the traders lauded the Accra Mayor and the AMA task force for undertaking the decongestion exercise in the Central Business District.

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Meanwhile, the Greater Accra Regional Minister, Linda Ocloo, has cautioned the traders against returning to the streets. Speaking to the media after the exercise, she noted that culprits will pay a fine within the range of GHC1,500 and GHC2,000.

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“We are going to reactivate our task force so that they will be working 24 hours a day. They are going to draw red lines in between the roads so that when you cross the line. There’s a fee that you have to pay, GHC1,500, with a maximum of GHC2,000. So that next time, you wouldn’t cross the line,” she said.

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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).

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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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