Accra Mayor bans hawking and trading under Kwame Nkrumah Interchange

The Mayor of Accra, Michael Kpakpo Allotey, has ordered the immediate cessation of all hawking, trading, food vending and other unauthorised activities beneath the Kwame Nkrumah Interchange, warning that offenders will face arrest and prosecution.

The directive forms part of an intensified campaign by the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) to restore order, improve sanitation and reclaim public spaces across the capital.

The Mayor issued the order on Tuesday during a working visit to the Okaikoi South Sub-Metropolitan District, where he led a high-level delegation from the AMA to inspect sanitation conditions, monitor compliance with Assembly by-laws and assess building permit regulations within the area.

During the exercise, AMA officials cleared food vendors, beggars and individuals who had been sleeping beneath portions of the interchange, particularly around the Korle Klottey section, which has increasingly become occupied by unauthorised users.

Addressing members of the inspection team, Mr. Allotey stressed that the Assembly would no longer tolerate the use of the area for commercial activities, makeshift settlements or any activity that undermines public safety and sanitation.

According to him, the space beneath the interchange was never intended for trading, food vending or habitation and must be maintained as a clean, secure and obstruction-free public area.

“The Assembly will not allow hawking, trading, sleeping or any unauthorised activity under the interchange. We are determined to ensure that public spaces are used for their intended purposes and remain safe for all residents,” he emphasized.

The Mayor warned that individuals who defy the directive and continue to engage in illegal activities under the interchange would be dealt with in accordance with the law.

He explained that the enforcement exercise is part of a broader strategy by the AMA to tackle growing concerns about congestion, indiscriminate trading, environmental degradation and poor sanitation in key areas of the city.

As part of the operation, officials also removed makeshift structures, wooden sheds and other unauthorised installations that had taken over sections of the interchange and surrounding areas.

The Assembly noted that many of these structures had contributed to unsanitary conditions, obstructed movement and posed potential safety risks to both motorists and pedestrians.

Earlier in the day, the Mayor led an AMA task force to demolish several illegal wooden structures erected along the shoulder of Otublohum Road near the Circle VVIP Station.

According to Mr. Allotey, the structures had been constructed without authorisation and were contributing to traffic congestion, poor waste management and the obstruction of public access routes.

He stressed that the Assembly would continue to remove illegal developments that undermine urban planning regulations and affect the smooth functioning of the city.

The Mayor also expressed concern over the condition of drainage systems within the area and directed owners of drinking spots, managers of the Circle VVIP Station and cattle owners operating along Otublohum Road to immediately desilt choked gutters.

He gave affected persons and businesses a 24-hour ultimatum to comply with the directive or face sanctions under the Assembly’s by-laws.

The move comes amid renewed efforts by the AMA to address perennial flooding, improve waste management and enhance environmental sanitation in Accra, particularly as the city enters the peak rainy season.

Mr. Allotey reaffirmed the Assembly’s commitment to enforcing regulations relating to sanitation, public order, physical planning and building permits.

He urged residents, traders, transport operators and business owners to cooperate with city authorities in maintaining a clean and orderly environment.

According to the Mayor, sustainable urban development can only be achieved when citizens respect public regulations and actively support efforts aimed at preserving public spaces and improving the overall quality of life in the capital.

The latest enforcement exercise signals the AMA’s determination to intensify its campaign against illegal trading, unauthorised structures and activities that undermine the city’s efforts to become cleaner, safer and more attractive for residents, businesses and visitors.