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Accra Mayor issues 5-day ultimatum for traders to vacate pavements
Accra Mayor issues 5-day ultimatum for traders to vacate pavements
By: Abigail | 3 mins read
Traders who ply their trade on pavements and in the streets of Accra have less than a week to find alternative places to sell their goods, following a 5-day ultimatum issued by the Accra Mayor Michael Allotey.
As of Tuesday, May 20, any trader found hawking on the pavements in the city will find themselves facing the full rigor of the law over their unlawful activity.Michael Allotey, during a press conference yesterday, Thursday, May 15, explained that the move forms part of the government's agenda to improve urban mobility and decongest the city.
“As the mayor of Accra, I cannot allow this to continue. Starting on Tuesday, we will begin the exercise. Please understand, we are not targeting anyone personally. We ask you, please, to move before we arrive. This is a promise I intend to keep. If by Tuesday you have not moved, we will have no choice but to remove you,” the mayor said.
He affirmed his outfit’s commitment to this, ensuring that the streets are kept for their intended purpose.
“From the day I took office, I made a commitment to myself….I am making that promise to all of us. The streets are not for selling. They are places for cars, not for trade.”
“The pavements have become overcrowded, and now they occupy almost half of the streets. If I wait for something bad to happen, they might even turn against the mayor of this city,” he added.
Mr Allotey clarified that the exercise is neither intended to target anyone nor abuse power by his office but for the general good of the public.
“We are not removing traders simply because we have the power to do so. Our goal is to keep the city clean. We have consulted with market women, the GPRTU, and the police. We are doing this to improve conditions for everyone,” he noted.
Failure to comply with this directive, the minister said, would attract sanctions from the AMA.
Also, in some parts of the country, the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (KMA) embarked on a decongestion exercise in the Central Business District (CBD) in April this year.
Before the exercise, vehicular movement in the area was at a standstill, as some traders sold their items in the middle of the streets, preventing pedestrians and vehicles from barely moving freely.
Meanwhile, transport operators in Ghana have issued a stern warning to the government and the Ghana Police Service, demanding immediate enforcement of the Road Traffic Regulations, 2012 (L.I. 2180), particularly those relating to trading on roads and pavements.
They have given authorities until Monday, May 19, to act or face a nationwide protest. According to the operators, the growing encroachment of roads and pavements by traders poses serious safety risks and disrupts the free flow of traffic.
Under Ghana’s Road Traffic Regulations, 2012 (L.I. 2180), specific provisions prohibit trading activities that obstruct pedestrian and vehicular movement.
These regulations are designed to ensure the safety and free flow of traffic on public roads and pavements.
Under Regulation 117 of the Road Traffic Regulations, 2012 (L.I. 2180), it is an offence for any person to engage in trading activities in certain areas that pose a risk to public safety or obstruct the smooth flow of traffic.
According to the law, a person shall not sell goods, display goods, offer goods for sale, or deliver goods as part of a sale on or alongside a road. A person shall also not sell or display goods on a pedestrian walkway. In addition, a person is prohibited from selling, displaying, offering for sale, or delivering goods within thirty metres of a railway level crossing.
The law further prohibits such activities under a road traffic sign that indicates a blind corner or a rise. It is also an offence to engage in these trading activities within an intersection. Lastly, the law forbids trading on or alongside any road, including areas around a toll booth and a toll plaza.
Any person who violates the above restrictions commits an offence. Upon summary conviction, the person is liable to pay a fine not exceeding fifty penalty units or serve a term of imprisonment not exceeding three months, or both.
This regulation is designed to safeguard the safety of all road users and ensure that trading activities do not interfere with traffic or endanger lives.
