Accra’s mayor, Michael Kpakpo Allotey, has called on traders operating from unauthorised locations such as roadsides, bus stops and other public spaces to relocate to designated markets in an effort to improve sanitation, restore order and ease congestion in the capital.
Speaking on the Citi Breakfast Show on Thursday, November 5, Allotey urged traders to return to established markets, noting that there are available spaces in some of Accra’s major trading centres that could accommodate those currently conducting business along the streets.
He singled out Kaneshie, Makola and Agbogbloshie markets, pointing out that several shops and trading spaces in these facilities remain unoccupied despite complaints by some traders that customers no longer patronise the markets.
Allotey said the AMA intends to support traders who comply with the directive by offering them free publicity through media platforms to encourage customers to patronise businesses operating within the designated markets.
“Let us all join forces and let the people know that before the bus stops were constructed, they were selling somewhere so they should be at those places and not the bus stops. If you go to the Kaneshie, Makola and Agbogbloshie markets, there are a lot of empty stores on all the floors and the traders have moved to the roadside because they think people are not buying from the markets. I am telling them that they should move back to the markets. We are going to run free adverts for them on our media stations whenever we have the opportunity. ‘We will tell the people to buy from the markets because if you buy from the markets, you can easily go back to the vendor and change items but if you buy from the roadside, you can’t find them to go change your items.'”
The mayor’s appeal comes amid growing concerns over street vending’s impact on traffic flow and public hygiene in Accra’s bustling commercial districts.
Traders who relocate to the designated markets will receive free advertising on the AMA’s media stations, a move that could help revive foot traffic and support local businesses in the city’s key market hubs.
