The Chief Executive of Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) Alfred O. Vanderpuije has assured residents of the capital that the decongestion exercise embarked upon by the assembly “would not be a nine-days’ wonder”. He said the exercise would be sustained until the streets are rid of all unauthorised persons and structures. “We are committed to the decongestion of the central business district and the whole city and will stop at nothing to achieve this,” he stated. In an interview with the Times, Mr Vanderpuije warned the recalcitrant hawkers that the assembly will continue to position its taskforce at vantage points to deter them from coming back. He said the exercise was not restricted to hawkers alone but also to structures that had been built at unauthorised places and on waterways. “It is a major exercise and we are committed to sustaining it,” he noted. He, however, expressed concern about allegations that some members of the taskforce were extorting money from traders. Mr Vanderpuije said the allegations would be investigated and those found guilty will be dealt with accordingly stressing, “we do not want this to be an avenue for some people to enrich themselves”. The mayor, said the people voted for change and development and that development cannot be built on old structures. “The congestion and buildings in waterways are the old structures that must give way for development.” Mr Vanderpuije said the assembly estimated the exercise to cost about GH¢140,000 but this did not include the demolition of structures in waterways which is a new addition that would increase the cost. He was, however, unable to give the estimate of the additional cost saying the assembly was still identifying buildings that have been sited in waterways. Source: Times