The Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) has issued a final warning to traders operating along the streets of Lapaz to vacate the roadside immediately or face enforcement action.
The directive was announced during a visit to the area on Thursday, May 7, by the Greater Accra Regional Minister, Linda Ocloo; the Mayor of Accra, Michael Nii Kpakpo Allotey; the Municipal Chief Executive of the Okaikwei North Municipal Assembly, Christian Tetteh Badger; and other officials as part of renewed efforts to decongest the area.
Traders have been given a seven-day ultimatum to leave the streets, with authorities warning that sanctions will be enforced after the deadline if they fail to comply.
As part of temporary measures, some of the affected traders have been relocated to nearby markets such as Achimota, Kisseman, and Abeka, while longer-term plans are being developed to properly accommodate them.
Speaking during the exercise, the Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) for Okaikwei North, Christian Tetteh Badger, explained that the decongestion exercise is intended to restore order and improve the flow of both pedestrian and vehicular traffic in the area.
He noted that prior engagements had been held with market leaders, including the market queen, who were urged to submit space allocation lists to ensure a fair distribution of stalls among traders.
He further stated that engineering teams and task force units had been deployed to ensure strict enforcement of the exercise, with the aim of clearing the area to allow for the free movement of people and vehicles.
He said:
“The Information Services Department van came around last week to issue a one-week ultimatum, directing that by next Monday, no one should be selling on the streets or on the zebra crossing.”
