The Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) has given traders operating on the streets of Lapaz a seven-day ultimatum to vacate the area or face full enforcement action.
The directive was issued on Thursday, May 7, during a high-level visit to the area by the Greater Accra Regional Minister, Linda Ocloo, the Mayor of Accra, Michael Nii Kpakpo Allotey, and the Municipal Chief Executive of the Okaikwei North Municipal Assembly, Christian Tetteh Badger, among other officials.
The visit forms part of intensified efforts to decongest Lapaz and restore order in the busy commercial area.
As part of the exercise, authorities have made temporary arrangements to relocate some of the affected traders to nearby markets, including Achimota, Kisseman, and Abeka, while longer-term solutions are being developed to properly accommodate them.
Speaking during the engagement, MCE Christian Tetteh Badger explained that the decongestion drive seeks to improve both pedestrian and vehicular movement in the area.
He noted that prior engagements had already been held with market leaders, including the market queen, asking them to submit space allocation lists for fair distribution among the traders.
“The Information Services Department van came around last week to issue a one-week ultimatum, directing that by next Monday, no one should be selling on the streets or on the zebra crossing,” Badger said.
He added that necessary engineering works and task force arrangements have been put in place to ensure strict compliance with the directive after the deadline.
The AMA has warned that sanctions will be applied against traders who fail to comply with the seven-day notice.