The Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) and the Korle Klottey Municipal Assembly (KoKMA) have issued an ultimatum to roadside traders operating around the Central Business Market (CMB) in Accra to vacate major roads and relocate behind designated demarcation lines by January 31, 2026.
The assemblies have warned that enforcement operations to clear the roads will commence in the early hours of February 1, as part of efforts to restore order, improve sanitation, and enhance pedestrian and vehicular movement in the area.
The directive followed an engagement with traders at the CMB Market on Monday, which was held at the request of the traders themselves.
The meeting brought together representatives of the Container Owners Association and the Ghana Private Road Transport Union (GPRTU), with discussions focusing on granting traders additional time to regularise their activities.
As part of the agreed measures, traders are expected to operate within structured groupings, appoint designated leaders, and cooperate with improved waste management arrangements, including the use of rubbish containers to enhance sanitation at the market.
Addressing the gathering, the Mayor of Accra, Hon. Michael Kpakpo Allotey, underscored the critical role of women particularly market women in the development of the capital city.
He urged traders to work closely with city authorities to make Accra clean, orderly, and safe.
He appealed for cooperation to address congestion and sanitation challenges, noting that street trading had intensified during the Christmas season, leading to restricted access for both pedestrians and vehicles.
According to the Mayor, the governmentās priority is to prevent disease outbreaks and road accidents while ensuring that traders can earn sustainable incomes to support their families. He acknowledged that street trading is often driven by economic hardship and the high cost of shop spaces, adding that new market and shop projects are being planned with affordability in mind.
Some spaces, he noted, could be made available for as low as GHĀ¢500.
Hon. Allotey revealed that authorities had initially planned to begin the exercise by mid-January but extended the deadline after traders explained that many still had unsold goods from the festive season.
He said the one-month grace period would allow traders to complete sales and prepare adequately for relocation.
He added that new demarcation lines would be redrawn to clearly indicate approved trading areas, stressing that enforcement would be firm once the deadline expires.
Enock Akonnor is an experienced Ghanaian journalist, based in Kumasi and currently serves as the CEO and Managing Editor of www.leakyghana.com.
With a wealth of expertise built over many years in the media industry, he has earned a solid reputation as one of Ghanaās most sought-after journalists.
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