The Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) has launched a significant decongestion initiative in the Central Business District (CBD), beginning with the re-demarcation of allowed commercial areas under the Red Line policy, which limits trading operations to defined locations.
The operation, which began about 4:00 a.m. on Sunday, aimed to restore order along critical business routes by enforcing pavement lines that distinguish permitted dealing places from no-trading areas.
The exercise also included citywide clean-up operations, such as street washing and the removal of stones and other impediments from streets and sidewalks.
The Assembly designated areas surrounding the GCB Bank PLC Liberty House branch in Kantamanto, stretching along the pavement toward the Greater Accra Regional Police Command, as no-trading zones as part of the re-demarcation.
Speaking during the operation, Hon. Michael Kpakpo Allotey, the mayor of Accra, stated that in order to allow traders to profit from the seasonal rush, the Assembly had extensively engaged traders prior to the exercise and permitted roadside trading to continue until Christmas celebrations and beyond.
He described the situation as an increasing cause of traffic and chaos in the commercial district and stated that the city could no longer allow the sale of goods on highways and specific pavements.
The mayor clarified that although some vendors had space within markets, many had chosen to sell on the streets and pavements instead.
He claimed that now that the holiday season was ended, the Assembly was taking steps to re-establish order by making sure that commerce took place in the proper places.
He described the decongestion as a year-long campaign rather than a one-day event, as part of efforts to make Accra cleaner and more structured.
He further stated that the Assembly would regularly implement the limitations and would prohibit future trade on streets and pavements.
Source: newsthemegh.com