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AMA Decongestion Exercise: This is our office, so we will return to the streets – Trader justify return to pavements

Traders at the Central Business District (CBD) of Accra have defied the red line initiative which has been reintroduced by the Mayor of Accra, Michael Kpakpo Allotey, to peddle their business on pavements and unauthorised spots in the area.

The initiative which was originally implemented under former Mayor Alfred Oko Vanderpuije, according to AMA, has been reintroduced with stronger enforcement strategy and deeper collaboration with stakeholders, particularly market women.

However, in a video report shared on CITI FM’s X account on Monday,26, 2025, a trader reacting to the development explained why she has returned to the streets to sell.

According to her, trading on the streets is their main source of livelihood and hence is forced to return to do business.

“This place is our office. This is where we make a living. So, if you ask us to stay off the pavement without giving us alternative places to trade, we have no choice but to return to the pavements to trade.

“Even some of the AMA officials have their wives among us who are also engaged in trade here. So, it will be difficult to keep us off the pavements,” he said.

Watch video below

The first phase of the decongestion exercise led by the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) in partnership with the Korle Klottey Municipal Assembly (KoKMA) began on Tuesday, May 20, 2025, in the Central Business District of Accra.

The exercise forms part of a broader initiative to reduce congestion, enforce city by-laws, and improve sanitation in the capital, initially targeted key areas around the AMA Head Office—specifically Kinbu Road to Railways, ECG Junction to the King Tackie Tawiah Statue, and Opera Square to Adabraka, identified as hotspots for street hawking and human and vehicular traffic.

However, in a viral video sighted by GhanaWeb on May 21, 2025, some traders were seen displaying their goods on the pavements in defiance of the directive.

Meanwhile, AMA has indicated that the second phase of the decongestion exercise will cover Wato Junction to King Tackie Tawiah, Cow Lane, Rawlings Park, Timber Market, and Kwame Nkrumah Circle.

Source: www.ghanaweb.com

Ogyem Solomon

Solomon Ogyem – Media Entrepreneur | Journalist | Brand Ambassador Solomon Ogyem is a dynamic Ghanaian journalist and media entrepreneur currently based in South Africa. With a solid foundation in journalism, Solomon is a graduate of the OTEC School of Journalism and Communication Studies in Ghana and Oxbridge Academy in South Africa. He began his career as a reporter at OTEC 102.9 MHz in Kumasi, where he honed his skills in news reporting, community storytelling, and radio broadcasting. His passion for storytelling and dedication to the media industry led him to establish Press MltiMedia Company in South Africa—a growing platform committed to authentic African narratives and multimedia journalism. Solomon is the founder and owner of Thepressradio.com, a news portal focused on delivering credible, timely, and engaging stories across Ghana and Africa. He also owns Press Global Tickets, a service-driven venture in the travel and logistics space, providing reliable ticketing services. He previously owned two notable websites—Ghanaweb.mobi and ShowbizAfrica.net—both of which contributed to entertainment and socio-political discussions within Ghana’s digital space. With a diverse background in media, digital journalism, and business, Solomon Ogyem is dedicated to telling impactful African stories, empowering youth through media, and building cross-continental media partnerships.

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