The Mayor of Accra, Michael Kpakpo Allotey, has announced the start of a city-wide decongestion exercise beginning on Tuesday, May 20, 2025. This initiative will focus on the Central Business District (CBD) and key areas of the city, including Okaishie, the Kwame Nkrumah Interchange, and Kaneshie.
During a press conference at City Hall, Mayor Allotey, accompanied by members of the Metropolitan Security Council (METSEC), including Chief Superintendent Ebenezer Nketiah, the Accra Central Divisional Commander, stated that the time for dialogue and delays has ended. He emphasised the urgent need for swift and decisive action to restore order in the city. Mayor Allotey highlighted that the streets are not for trading but for vehicular and pedestrian use, adding that continued trading poses a threat to public safety and urban mobility.
“There’s no time to make empty promises,” the Mayor declared. “From the day I assumed office, I made a personal promise to keep Accra clean. Today, I am making that promise public: our streets are not marketplaces. Pavements are for walking, roads are for driving, and not for petty trading,” he said.
According to the Mayor, the exercise would commence in Okaishie and move through Circle to Kaneshie, adding that the situation had become critical, with traders now occupying not only pavements but large portions of roads, obstructing movement and endangering lives.
He stressed that the upcoming operation was not an act of aggression or power, but a necessity to ensure the functionality and dignity of the capital. “We are not targeting anyone. We are not doing this because we want to remove people by force. We are doing this because we want to keep the city clean and orderly,” he explained.
The Mayor revealed that prior consultations had been held with market leaders, security agencies, and transport unions, and confirmed that available space exists in designated markets for affected traders. “When we met the leaders, they told us there is space in the markets. So I urge all those affected to go back to their leaders and be relocated before Tuesday,” he said.
He revealed plans to introduce a 24-hour city operation model, including a clean-up and security task force that would help improve sanitation and ensure safety, particularly for businesses operating late into the night. The Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) of the Korle Klottey Municipal Assembly(KoKMA), Alfred Ato Allotey-Gaisie, underscored the joint commitment of both assemblies to rid Accra of the street trading menace.
He described the situation as “a serious challenge” that has long gone unaddressed, noting that traders have moved from pavements onto the main roads, disrupting both vehicular movement and sanitation. “We are going to take the bull by the horns, and this will start next week Tuesday. The streets of Accra are not meant for selling, and we will not tolerate resistance from any quarters.”
He cautioned those who had erected unauthorized structures, including containers, that they would also be removed. “Our final warning goes to those with illegal structures. They will all be cleared,” he warned, stressing that the exercise would be done with force if needed.
Both the Mayor and the MCE appealed to residents, traders, and all stakeholders to cooperate fully with the Assembly’s task force to ensure the success of the operation.
By: Caleb Kudah
