The Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) has issued a 48-hour ultimatum to traders and hawkers occupying unauthorised bus stops across the metropolis. The directive follows complaints by commercial drivers that traders are obstructing designated stopping points, disrupting transport operations, and forcing passengers to board and alight at unsafe locations. The Assembly says the practice contributes to traffic congestion, obstructs pedestrian movement, and exposes commuters to road accidents.
The AMA has already initiated clearance operations at the Kwame Nkrumah Interchange, Achimota, and parts of the Central Business District, with Mayor of Accra, Michael Kpakpo Allotey, leading the efforts. The Assembly has warned that traders who disregard the directive or return to cleared locations will face sanctions, including prosecution under its by-laws. The exercise forms part of efforts to restore public order, improve road safety, and ensure the proper use of public spaces.
According to the Accra Road Safety Report released in 2025, there was a 34 per cent increase in road traffic fatalities in the capital in 2024, with pedestrians accounting for more than half of the deaths. The National Road Safety Authority also reported that pedestrian knockdown deaths nationwide increased from 590 in 2024 to 704 in 2025. These figures highlight the need for city authorities to prioritize pedestrian infrastructure as a public safety necessity.
The Local Governance Act, 2016 (Act 936), provides district assemblies with the authority to make by-laws and address obstructions and nuisances in public spaces. The AMA's decision to reclaim designated bus stops is a step in the right direction, as it seeks to enforce its by-laws and protect public infrastructure from unauthorised occupation. However, the recurring nature of Accra's decongestion exercises raises questions about the sustainability of enforcement efforts.
To ensure the success of this exercise, the AMA must resist the temptation to treat this 48-hour ultimatum as another isolated campaign. It needs a properly resourced monitoring team, regular inspections, and consistent sanctions against offenders, irrespective of their status or political connections. Enforcement must also extend to those who facilitate illegal occupation or collect unauthorised payments from traders.
The AMA must also work with market authorities and trader associations to identify available trading spaces, improve existing markets, and establish transparent arrangements for allocating approved vending locations. The Assembly must improve the design and maintenance of bus stops, provide clear markings, and ensure that pedestrian walkways remain accessible. Commercial drivers must also respect designated stopping points and avoid picking up passengers indiscriminately along the road.
Ultimately, a well-managed Accra requires planning, discipline, public education, and sustained accountability. The Assembly must demonstrate that its commitment to reclaiming public spaces is a permanent urban management policy, not a temporary show of authority. The AMA's 48-hour ultimatum to traders and hawkers occupying unauthorised bus stops is a necessary intervention that deserves public support.
Key points
- The Accra Metropolitan Assembly has given traders and hawkers 48 hours to vacate unauthorised bus stops ahead of an intensified enforcement exercise.
- The exercise aims to restore public order, improve road safety, and ensure the proper use of public spaces.
- The AMA must ensure sustained enforcement and work with market authorities and trader associations to identify available trading spaces.
