Public Relations Officer (PRO) for the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA), Mr. Gilbert Nii Ankrah, has reaffirmed that the decongestion exercise in the Metropolitan Assembly has largely been successful.
He said the exercise aims to ensure there are no trading activities in the streets. He clarified that trading activities on pavements were not part of the agenda.
The plan by the Mayor of Accra, Michael Kpakpo Allotey, to decongest the central business district (CBD) of the city has been successful.
A joint task-force by the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) and the Korle Klottey Municipal Assembly (KoKMA) decongested the Metro by removing unauthorized structures and traders from footbridges, road shoulders, and other rights of way that obstruct pedestrian and vehicular movement in the city. Providing an update on the exercise, the PRO explained that the traders were supportive of the initiative.
Speaking on Frontline on Rainbow Radio 87.5FM, he said the Mayor has also launched Operation “Red Line”, a new demarcation strategy with the core objective of improving pedestrian safety and regulating street trading in the Central Business District.
The initiative involves clearly marking red lines on pavements and walkways to designate specific zones for pedestrian use and controlled trading activities.
”So far, we are happy with the results. The traders have been cooperative and supported the exercise. To clarify, the pavements are not part of the exercise. We had explained to the traders why the exercise was important. As part of the Mayor’s initiative, he set up a taskforce to execute the exercise, and it has been generally successful. The street is not a no-go area. We are happy with the results and are optimistic that the Mayor’s plan to decongest the area will succeed.”
He stressed that the plan by the Assembly has no intention in displacing anyone.
“We all appreciate the fact that population wise, those trading on the pavements are a lot and in as much as we’re putting in efforts to ensure that we expand the markets for them, we also cannot just displace them. The Mayor has been very clear on this point that it is not the intention of the government to dissolve any trader. Let us put that on record. For those on the pavements, we have redemicated the pavements and we expect the traders to comply.”
Meanwhile, he has stated that trading activities are prohibited on the pavements at the AMA office area and also excluded in open spaces.
By: Rainbowradioonline.com/Ghana
