By Seli Baisie
A sweeping three-day decongestion operation by the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) is underway in Ghana’s capital, aiming to clear unauthorised structures and street traders from key roadways. But beneath the enforcement lies a growing tension between urban order and economic survival, as struggling traders plead for empathy amid the rising cost of living.
“We are mothers. Things are hard for us. We beg him [the Mayor],” said a female trader, packing up her stall, her eyes welling with frustration. This came hours after AMA officials and police began the first phase of the crackdown early Tuesday morning in the heart of Accra’s Central Business District.
The exercise, which began on May 20, covers critical corridors from the AMA Head Office through Zongo Lane to Adabraka, targeting footpath obstructions and makeshift stalls in violation of AMA Hawkers Bye-Laws (2017) and Section 117(1) of the Road Traffic Regulations, 2012 (L.I. 2180).
Mayor Michael Kpakpo Allotey, Accra’s youngest-ever city mayor, is at the centre of the exercise, drawing a firm line between governance and populism.
“Even Jesus Christ was hated. So everybody cannot love me. But at least, it is good when you do good that in your heart you know this is good,” he told GBC Online during the operation.
Allotey, who described himself as “prepared for anything ahead,” said his mission was not political.
“This is not NDC or NPP. Don’t blackmail me with party sentiments. When Ghana spoils, there will be no NDC.”
Economic survival under pressure
While the AMA argues that there is sufficient space in designated markets, many traders say the move is poorly timed. With Ghana’s inflation rate hovering at 21.2% as of April 2025, the cost of essentials like transport, rice, yam, and plantain has surged, squeezing daily survival.
Cost of Living Snapshot
- Food inflation (YoY): 25.0%
- Regional (Accra): 24.8%
- Bus and trotro fare rise (2024-2025): +20.0%
- Rice (YoY): 15.4%
Source: Ghana Statistical Service
“What they are doing is in order. It is not our will to put our wares here, but things are hard,” said a male trader near Kinbu area. “Now the mayor is here and told us to relocate and make way for the roads. We will comply for peace to prevail.”
Decongestion by the numbers
The second and third phases of the exercise will target UTC Road to Timber Market and parts of Circle and Kaneshie, including Pamprom Lane.
The AMA says the exercise feeds into a broader vision to introduce a 24-hour city model supported by round-the-clock sanitation and security teams.
Political risk or reform?
Mayor Allotey’s bold push has earned both praise and backlash. For some, it recalls the legacy of former mayor Oko Vanderpuije, whose tenure was marked by similar crackdowns.
“I watched Oko Vanderpuije, I watched Adjei Sowah, and I told myself, one day I will be mayor. And if by the special grace of God I become a mayor, I will also leave a legacy,” he said.
But the mayor’s legacy may depend on whether traders believe they are being pushed aside or brought along.
As the sun set on the first day of the exercise, many traders were seen packing their goods quietly, not in defiance, but in resignation.
“We know this is not the right place to sell, but we’re just trying to survive,” said another woman.
What lies ahead
The question is whether Accra can balance economic hardship with urban discipline. With the operation ongoing, all eyes are on how the city will support informal traders it seeks to remove.
For now, the mayor remains resolute: “I’m here to make a mark, not just sit in the office.”
