The Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA), in collaboration with Joy Clean Ghana, has arrested four traders during a renewed decongestion exercise at the Agbogbloshie Market, just a week after they were cleared from the same unauthorised spots.

The exercise, held on Wednesday, February 18, forms part of ongoing efforts by the Assembly’s Health Directorate to remove traders from roadsides, drains, and pavements in order to improve sanitation and ease traffic congestion within the market enclave.

Last Wednesday, February 11, officials undertook a similar operation, dismantling illegal structures and seizing goods displayed on walkways and drainage systems.

However, upon returning to the area, authorities found several traders had moved back to the same locations they had previously been ordered to vacate.

Speaking during the exercise, the Director of Metro Public Health at the AMA, Ing. Florence Kuukyi, expressed concern over what she described as repeated non-compliance by some traders.

“So you see, this is the Agbogbloshie market. It is one of the largest markets in Accra or in Ghana,” she said.

“And there are a lot of traders in the market here. But we don't have a lot of stalls. People have stalls inside. Nobody is supposed to use this place; initially, nobody was supposed to sell behind the dwarf wall.”

She acknowledged the pressure on space within the market but stressed that the decongestion exercise is intended to ensure fairness, safety, and public health.

“But now we have seen that there are a lot of people who don't even have a place to sell their things. So what we are telling them is, as part of the decongestion, nobody should display for sale things on the drain.

“You can display things for sale on the pavement, at the back of the dwarf wall. If we come and you are selling your things behind the dwarf wall, we don't have a problem with you.

“But when we come, and you leave your shop inside, and you have used your things to make a stall in front of the dwarf wall, we will collect the things.”

Ing. Kuukyi urged traders who already have shops within the market to make use of them rather than extending their activities onto public walkways.

“You have the opportunity to have a shop inside. Use it. Get a warehouse and put your things inside. So that the one who doesn't have the opportunity to have a shop inside can also sell here. Then at the end of the day, everybody will get something to spend on their family. That's all we are doing,” she added.

She further highlighted the health and safety risks associated with trading on pavements and drainage systems.

“Yes, this has health implications on people because when you even come back, the risk, this is a pavement. This is where the cars are passing.

“So if you are across the drain when there is an accident, firstly, you will be hurt. There are pallets on the drains. Passers-by can also walk on the pallets and go their way. Everybody will be free.”

The Director also advised traders to wear protective masks to minimise dust inhalation in the busy commercial hub.

“The other thing we are also asking them to do is when you sit there, you wear your mask to prevent you from inhaling dust because we know our environment is full of dust,” she said.

The AMA has indicated that the decongestion exercise will be sustained to ensure compliance and to maintain order, sanitation, and safety.