The market queens of the Greater Accra Market Association (GAMA) have urged the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) to intensify its efforts at enforcing the Road Traffic Regulation that debars trading on the streets.
They also called on the AMA and the Police to force traders who have abandoned their sheds in the markets and are selling on the streets to go back into the markets, as they were in violation of Article 117 of the Law.
The President of GAMA, Madam Mercy Needjan, made the call when the Coordinating Director of the AMA, Sam Ayeh-Datey, called on her to inform her about the decongestion exercise scheduled for Monday, January 8, 2018.
She said although the enforcement of the laws would cause some inconvenience to some traders, it would benefit the general populace, adding; “this is a task that must be undertaken at all cost.”
Madam Needjan said the congestion in Accra had caused a lot of inconveniences to both human and vehicular traffic, making it difficult for customers to enter the markets to shop.
She added that it also denied traders in the markets the opportunity to make good sales.
She said the Association would give its full support to the AMA in the course of the exercise to clear the streets of traders, who were exposed to serious health risks from inhaling the fumes of vehicles.
“The stench and the fumes that emanate from the drains could cause a lot of problems to them,” she added.
Madam Needjan advised the market women to support the AMA in its efforts at ensuring sound sanitary practices and safe environments in Accra.
She cautioned them to avoid politicising the exercise since it was in the best interest of all.
Mr Ayeh-Datey said the AMA’s vision for Accra was a cleaner, healthier, safer and more congenial place where residents and visitors could stay and do their businesses with minimum stress and strain.
He said stalls allocated to the traders in the markets had been abandoned with some selling on the streets while others had rented theirs without informing the AMA.
“Whatever the case may be, the squatters on the streets will be ejected to pave way for cars, trucks, and pedestrians to move freely,” he said.
Mr Ayeh-Datey said the exercise would be pursued with renewed vigour while targets would be set and monitored to ensure that no trader was left on the streets of Accra.
Some of the traders in an interview at the Makola Market confirmed that the situation was a major problem in the capital and that the oncoming decongestion exercise would be a great relief.
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Source: Samcilla/BjrliveFM.com/01818/Credit:CitiFM
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