AMA embarks on decongestion exercise

Accra, Sept 23 GNA - The Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) on Tuesday continued with its exercise to decongest the city of hawkers and traders, who have taken over the streets and pavements in the Metropolis.

The exercise, which started on Monday, is aimed clearing the pavements and walkways to allow pedestrians free movement without let or hindrance and to reduce traffic congestion in the city.

Today's eviction exercise started from Ghana Commercial Bank (GCB), Derby Avenue, and ended at Motor Transport and Traffic Unit (MTTU) Traffic Light at Tudu.

Twenty Assemblymen of the Environmental Sub-Committee members of AMA, who took part in the exercise, warned storeowners along the streets not to allow traders and hawkers to do business in front of their shops. They said the programme was going to continue for the next one month to make sure that the hawkers and the traders did not return to the pavements and streets.

Mr Charles Parker Allotey, Public Relations Officer of the AMA, said the Assembly had devised a new strategy with the Police to clear all the hawkers from the streets.

He said the AMA had already started deploying some of its Taskforce Personnel to the place at dawn so that by the time the women returned to the market they could not come to the pavements.

Mr Eugene Boateng, Derby Avenue Manager of GCB, said the activities of hawkers in front of the Bank had drastically affected its deposit mobilization.

He said most customers, who had wanted to come and do business at the Bank, were forced to turn away because the whole pavement had been taken over by the traders.

He suggested that AMA should send some of the hawkers and traders to other satellites markets in the Metropolis.