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AMA kicks off major decongestion exercise in Accra
The Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) on Tuesday, May 20, 2025, officially commenced a long-anticipated decongestion exercise across major parts of the Central Business District (CBD) to clear unauthorised trading activities from pavements and on the streets.
The operation, which began at 4:00 a.m. and was supervised by the Mayor of Accra, Michael Kpakpo Allotey, targeted Kinbu Street and extended through Makola, CMB, Circle, and Kaneshie.
In an interaction with hawkers, during the exercise, Mayor Allotey reiterated that the operation was a necessity, not an act of aggression, stressing that it aimed to clean Accra and make it a model capital for the sub-region.
He used the opportunity to announce several measures under the government’s 24-hour economy agenda, including the installation of solar-powered streetlights and a new rotational trading system that would allow traders to sell for longer hours on selected days.
He announced plans to select trader leaders to oversee sanitation responsibilities in various trading enclaves, warning that failure to keep areas clean would result in severe penalties, including confiscation of wares.
Addressing some transport operators who have taken over portions of the streets for loading, the Mayor cautioned them to stay away from loading on the streets and move into the stations for safety, saying, “You’re the same people now causing the problem.”
“Some of you complain politicians are destroying the country, but what you’re doing here is also wrong. If we destroy this city, we’ll all suffer,” he cautioned.
Briefing the media after the initial rounds of enforcement, Mr.Allotey emphasised that the exercise was not a nine-day wonder or designed to frustrate traders, but to restore order and dignity to the capital.
“We are not here to sack anyone. The President didn’t appoint me to mistreat traders. That’s why I speak to you with humility and explain our plans. For today, we won’t seize your items. But from tomorrow, if we find you violating the rules, we will confiscate your goods and give them to charity,” he warned.
The Mayor assured traders of his open-door policy, urging them not to retaliate when they encounter misconduct from city guards.
“If any AMA worker offends you, don’t fight them. Come directly to my office — you don’t need an appointment. I am the Mayor for the people,” he said.
While touring the Circle area, Mayor Kpakpo Allotey revealed plans to construct affordable mini shops for hawkers along cleared areas to offer a more sustainable trading option.
The Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) for the Korle Klottey Municipal Assembly (KoKMA), Alfred Ato Allotey-Gaisie, commended the traders for the level of cooperation received, noting that the operation had been largely successful.
“We started from the Kinbu area and moved through Makola, CMB, Circle, and Kaneshie. Especially at Kaneshie, we saw that traders had moved back to the demarcated areas. The bridge is completely cleared,” he said.
Mr.Gaisie stressed that the operation would continue daily until Friday to ensure full compliance, clarifying that not all traders would be moved entirely from the streets.
“We’ll do the same thing tomorrow and the day after. Our aim is not to harass anyone, but to ensure free movement for both pedestrians and vehicles. Already, we’ve seen massive improvement today. We’ve drawn a red line and will arrange traders along it. We’re not displacing everyone,” he stated.
He also hinted at a rotational system for trading in congested zones such as Katamanto and parts of the CBD, proposing two designated days in a week where traders can operate along certain streets into the night.
“This will help them earn their income without returning to illegal spots. We don’t want to frustrate anyone. Everyone has the right to feed their families — but we also have a responsibility to maintain law and order,” Mr. Gaisie noted.
The forecourt of the African University of Communications and Business (AUCB) in Accra came alive on Friday with colour, creativity and innovation, as Level 300 students transformed the space into a lively exhibition of ideas.
Under the theme “Building meaningful brands beyond the logo,” the students invited patrons into a world where ordinary products were reimagined through storytelling, design and purpose.
From scented candles to innovative food concepts, each stand told a unique story, one that went beyond aesthetics to capture identity, value and human connection.
For many of the students, the event was more than just an academic exercise; it was a moment to dream out loud.
Guided by their lecturer, Peter Wonders, they explored what it truly means to build a brand in today’s competitive world where trust, consistency and experience matter just as much as logos and slogans.
Chairman of the occasion, Nana Kum Gyata VI, in his remarks said a brand is what people say about you when you are not present.
At the end of the presentations, awards were presented to deserving groups with Vida Nyaneba emerging as the overall best branding student.
By Esinam Jemima Kuatsinu
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The Senior Correctional Centre (SCC) has initiated a lecture session to broaden the horizon of level 400 students at the Social Work Department of the University of Ghana (UG).
The initiative is under the auspices of the Counselling Unit and OIC of the Station, in consultation with the University.
The inaugural lecture delved into education of Social Work students about the role of Ghana Prisons Service and its core mandates, while emphasising the need for counseling as a psychological intervention for inmates mental health and well-being.
It also gave clearer insights about what was required of them in contributing their quota to creating awareness about the Service’s reformational agenda.
The session forms part of the ‘Think Prisons 360 degrees’ initiative, a collaborative efforts of the SCC Counseling Unit to conscientise the final year students of their roles as future social workers.
ASP Alfred Nii Arday Ankrah, a Public Relation Personnel highlighted on the core roles of the Service which include the welfare of inmates, safe custody of inmates, reformation and rehabilitation of inmates, respectively.
Discussing the ‘Think Prisons 360 degree’ agenda birthed by the Director General of the service, DGP Patience Baffoe-Bonnie Esq, Mr Ankrah enumerated the five core pillars of the initiative which include welfare of inmates and staff, agriculture mechanisation, industrialisation, wealth creation and strategic relations.
DSP Belinda Adjei-Attah, Head of SCC Counselling Unit schooled the final year students about the role of counseling as a pivotal reformational tool in the service with the tendency to enhance inmates’ psychological needs.
DSP Adjei-Attah further highlighted how Prison Officers and social workers could work together to reduce recidivism.
DSP Eugene Ansu Ohene-Tutu, a Counseling Personnel at SCC further elaborated on the role of social workers in aiding psychosocial interventions, expanding support systems and bringing in-house psychiatrists to help circumnavigate inmates’ mental health.
Dr Abena Oforiwa Ampomah, Lecturer at the Department commended the Senior Officers for their time with the final year students and commended the Officer-In-Charge of SCC, DDP Yayra Ashong Mettle, for releasing the officers to make such a memorable lecture.
By Spectator Reporter
