The Ayawaso West Municipal Assembly has launched another enforcement exercise to clear traders and squatters from the Tetteh Quarshie Roundabout area in Accra.
A task force from the Assembly moved into the area on Wednesday, October 7, 2026, to remove traders and other occupants who had allegedly returned to the location after previous clearance exercises.
The operation targeted an emerging unauthorised market and other informal activities around the busy Tetteh Quarshie interchange, near the Villagio apartments.
The Assembly said the exercise was necessary to address concerns relating to public safety, traffic congestion, sanitation and the use of public spaces.
According to the municipal authorities, the location has not been designated as a market and should not be used for commercial activities.
Ayawaso West Municipal Chief Executive Michael Mensah said the Assembly had previously cleared the area but some traders had returned and re-established their businesses.
He maintained that the area around Villagio is primarily designated for residential use and should not be allowed to develop into an unauthorised commercial centre.
The latest operation has, however, affected traders who had established businesses in the area and rely on their activities for their livelihoods.
The clearance also revives concerns surrounding the earlier demolition of the Tetteh Quarshie Art Market and adjoining businesses in March 2026.
That demolition displaced a number of traders and artisans and attracted public criticism after the structures were pulled down by unidentified men wearing military-style uniforms.
The Deputy Minister for Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts, Yussif Jajah, subsequently called for an investigation into the demolition and raised concerns about the treatment of the affected traders.
Some of the displaced traders were later relocated to a temporary site, but they reportedly complained about low patronage and difficulties sustaining their businesses at the new location.
The traders have also previously raised concerns about compensation and the need for a suitable permanent location where they can continue their businesses.
Eric Adjei Affum, Deputy Director for Technical at the Assembly’s National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO), said authorities were working on relief packages for some affected traders.
He acknowledged, however, that any assistance provided would not necessarily fully compensate traders for losses they may have suffered.
The renewed enforcement exercise indicates that the Assembly intends to prevent traders from returning to the Tetteh Quarshie Roundabout and surrounding areas.
The municipal authorities have warned that further action could be taken against individuals who return to the location after the latest clearance.
The exercise forms part of broader efforts by the Assembly to enforce planning regulations, improve sanitation and prevent unauthorised commercial activities in the municipality.
The Tetteh Quarshie area is also strategically important because it connects several major routes and experiences significant traffic throughout the day.
Authorities have therefore argued that keeping the area free from unauthorised trading and other activities is necessary to maintain order and protect road users.
The development once again highlights the challenge faced by local authorities in enforcing planning regulations while also dealing with the livelihood concerns of informal traders.
Source: Thepressradio.com
