Three traders were arrested on Wednesday morning at the Kwame Nkrumah Circle for allegedly resisting a decongestion exercise carried out by a joint task force.

The operation, led by officers from the Ghana Police Service, National Security, and the Okaikwei South Sub-Metro, was aimed at clearing unauthorised trading activity from the frontage of the Neoplan Station. It follows a similar exercise conducted the previous day by the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) and the Korle Klottey Municipal Assembly.

According to officials, the broader objective is to improve sanitation and ensure the free flow of both pedestrian and vehicular traffic in the capital.

In an interview with Adom News, Okaikwei Metro Director, Mercy Odoi, stressed that this was not a one-off activity.

“This is not going to be a nine-day wonder. It will be a sustained effort,” she said.

As part of the operation, traders on pavements were asked to dismantle their stalls to clear walkways, while vehicles parked along main roads were removed. Persons sheltering beneath the overhead bridge were also ordered to vacate.

Despite the intentions of the task force, some traders expressed displeasure. They claimed there was no prior notice and insisted that AMA Mayor, Michael Nii Kpakpo Allotey, had earlier assured them they would not be removed—leading to pockets of resistance and the subsequent arrests.

The AMA has yet to comment on the alleged assurances.