Don't politicize Accra decongestion exercise- AMA boss

Accra, June 1, GNA- Mr. Alfred Vanderpuije, Accra Metropolitan Chief Executive, has called on Ghanaians not to politicize the Accra Metropolitan Authority's (AMA) decongestion exercise to rid the city of filth and unauthorised structures.

"The diseases that are plaguing us because of insanitary conditions in the city have no political, social or ethnic barriers," he stressed.

Speaking at the launch of the Education Campaign on Decongestion and Sanitation Exercise in Accra, on Monday, Mr Vanderpuije emphasized that AMA was simply enforcing its bye-laws in order to "stem indiscipline and lawlessness and make the city governable and healthy to live in."

"What we are simply demanding from our petty traders and hawkers is to operate their businesses in areas approved by the city authorities to prevent inconveniencing pedestrians, road users and residents in the city," he said.

Mr Vandeipuije said AMA had given hawkers and traders doing business on road pavements, streets and intersections, a two-week ultimatum, to relocate to the Odawna and other markets established by the authority adding, "if they fail to comply, they will be prosecuted". "All traders who have deserted their stores, stalls and spaces at the markets and are operating outside, must go back before the 15 June deadline or risk having their premises relocated to others," he warned. Mr. Vanderpuije said those who had erected unauthorised structures on pavements and ceremonial roads, had to remove them and cautioned those who had turned lorry parks and markets as their sleeping places to desist from the act.

He said the country could not afford to be left behind in development as filth and poor waste management served as threats to investment and tourism.

"All cities in the world are aiming at beauty and modernity so as to attract tourists, investors and other business activities, to improve their economy," he said, adding that that Accra could not afford to be left "behind in this race for excellence".

He announced that the AMA was to embark on a two-week educational campaign, on the decongestion and sanitation exercise and would be in six languages, including English Ga, Akan, Ewe, Dagbani and Hausa.

He said at the end of the campaign, the AMA would enforce its bye-laws to remove all unauthorized structures, cleanse the city and drain chocked gutters.

Mr Vandepuije called on the public to co-operate with the AMA in the campaign and urged the media to be at the forefront in the crusade to "move the nation forward in the right direction". Eleven cinema vans have been provided by the Information Services Department, to assist the AMA in its educational campaign programmes.

Mr. Abass Awolu, Director in charge of Urban Road Department, told the GNA, that activities of the hawkers was against Section 296 sub section 16 of Act 29 of the Criminal Code, 1960, as they cause obstruction to public way.

"The law defines public way as any highway, market place, lorry park, a square, street, bridge or any other way lawfully used by the public," he said, stressing that this law as well as the AMA bye-law would be enforced to abate the nuisance created by hawkers.