AMA begins next decongestion exercise on October 8

Accra, Sept. 19, GNA - The Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) will on October 8 embark on another massive decongestion exercise in the metropolis.

Mr. Stanley Nii Adjiri Blankson, CEO of AMA, who announced this at the induction of Executive Implementation Committee (EIC) of the Assembly's Plastic Waste Management Project, therefore appealed to all residents to support and sustain cleanliness in the city. The EIC will, among other things, establish a "No Drop Zone" of plastic waste in the metropolis and engage special guards to man all entry points of the Central Business District. EIC, which is tasked to manage the project, would hand over to the AMA after six months.

AMA on February 8, 2005 embarked on its first massive decongestion exercise in the Central Business District. Hawkers who were affected by the exercise have been housed at the Pedestrian Shopping Mall at Kwame Nkrumah Circle.

Nii Adjiri Blankson said the Assembly had not been able to effectively sustain the exercise because of the cost involved. According to the Mayor, soon after the last decongestion exercise the Assembly paid GH=A25 (50,000 cedis) each per day to over 500 Police and Prison officers who were tasked to stop hawkers from occupying the streets.

Nii Adjiri Blanson said the Assembly would therefore consult the Greater Accra Regional Minister, Sheikh Ibrahim C. Quaye and other Ministries to provide support to sustain the exercise this time around. He said during the last exercise the Assembly apprehended 125 lunatics roaming the city and catered for them. He said due the huge cost incurred in keeping them, the lunatics have returned to the streets.

The Mayor said the Assembly had issued an ultimatum to traders who had refused to occupy the Pedestrian Shopping Mall to move in or forfeit the money they paid to occupy the Mall.