The Mayor of the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA), Michael Kpakpo Allotey, has assured the public that the ongoing decongestion exercise is not a nine-day wonder but a sustained effort to ensure that roads and public spaces are cleared.
He made this commitment during a press briefing after spending several hours supervising Phase 1 of the exercise within the Central Business District, covering areas such as Tudu and adjoining streets.
The three-day operation is a joint initiative by the AMA and the Korle Klottey Municipal Assembly (KoKMA), supported by the Ghana Police Service, market leaders, transport unions, and other key stakeholders.
According to the AMA, the exercise is in accordance with the AMA Hawkers Bye-Laws (2017) and Section 117(1) of the Road Traffic Regulations, 2012 (L.I. 2180), which prohibit activities that obstruct pedestrian and vehicular movement in public spaces.
Mayor Kpakpo pledged to sustain the exercise, emphasizing his commitment to follow through on promises.
“I don’t make promises I can’t keep. Whatever I say, I do. This exercise is not a nine-day wonder we’re out on the streets to ensure they are clear, and everyone will see that we’ve done a great job,” he stated.
The first phase of the exercise, expected to extend to the Kwame Nkrumah Circle, has been met with enthusiasm from pedestrians and motorists. However, some traders have appealed to the Assembly for leniency, stating that hawking is a vital source of livelihood for their families.
The decongestion exercise targets key areas including the vicinity of the AMA Head Office, Kinbu Road to Railways, ECG Junction to the King Tackie Tawiah Statue, Zongo Lane, and Opera Square to Adabraka on the first day—Tuesday, May 20, 2025.
Day 2 will cover Wato Junction through King Tackie Tawiah School, Cow Lane, UTC Road to Timber Market, and parts of the Kwame Nkrumah Circle, including Las Palmas and Glamour Road.
On Day 3, the operation will shift focus to the remaining portions of the Circle and the Kaneshie enclave, including Pamprom Lane and the footbridges.