A former chief executive of the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA), has tasked the Accra Mayor, Nii Adjei Sowah, to be steadfast and persevere in the face of pressure he decongests the capital.  

Nat Nunoo Armateifio said although pressure will be brought upon him to abandon the exercise, he should go ahead with the exercise.

Speaking on the Super Morning Show Tuesday, he said it is not only for the benefit of the pedestrians whose usage of the sidewalk has been taken away, but the few traders who stay inside the market.

He believes those traders should not lose out because others decided to catch the customers on the streets and pavements.

“Their loyalty must be rewarded. The city cannot go on allowing public spaces to be taken over for private commerce,” he said.

He observed that around the capital, any space next to a traffic light is taken over by hawkers forcefully and the “city is becoming quite ugly”.

Over the last three decades attempts to rid Accra’s pavements of filth and human traffic have proven near impossible.

AMA Mayor

It, therefore, comes as no surprise that there are many who believe the current Mr. Sowah’s resolve to decongest the city will not last.

Mr Armateifio lauded the use of jagged-edged stones under the flyovers at the Kwame Nkrumah Circle to prevent hawkers from occupying the space.

He is convinced that such actions will, in the long run, sustain the drive to rid the city of hawkers at the traffic light.

On his part, Member of Parliament of the Odododiodoo constituency in which the Central business district is located is hopeful the exercise will be sustained.

Speaking on the AM Show on MultiTV, Nii Lante Vanderpuye said this is to ensure more discipline on the country’s roads.

He noted that although a former Mayor, E.T Mensah, built the Hawkers Market at Agbogloshie and Stanley Adjiri Blankson, another ex-Mayor, constructed the Hawkers Mall at Kwame Nkrumah Circle, some traders still defy city authorities to sell on pavements.