In a statement to the press, and copied to the Ghana News Agency in Tamale, UPDN praised the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) for launching a major urban decongestion exercise set to begin on Tuesday, May 20, 2025.
The statement signed by Reverend Kofi Asante Mensah, President of UPDN, said the initiative would help restore public order, improve pedestrian safety, and enhance urban sanitation by strictly enforcing existing bye-laws, and traffic regulations.
“This long-awaited move reflects a firm commitment to restoring discipline and revitalizing the capital city,” the statement said.
“We commend the Mayor’s resolve to implement the AMA Hawkers Bye-Laws (2017) and Section 117(1) of the Road Traffic Regulations (L.I. 2180).” the statement added.
It observed that the collaborative effort involving the AMA, Korle-Klottey Municipal Assembly (KoKMA), the Ghana Police Service, market leaders, and transport unions was a model of responsible city governance.
According to UPDN, such multi-stakeholder cooperation is key to effective and lasting urban transformation.
While calling for the replication of this initiative by other Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Assemblies (MMDAs), the statement cautioned against politicizing the exercise.
“Ghana’s cities need political leadership and sustained action, not half-hearted efforts plagued by partisanship or short-term interests,” the statement emphasized.
The statement also acknowledged the challenges posed to the informal sector workers, stressing that development must be inclusive.
“We urge the government to expand existing market infrastructure to provide viable options for displaced hawkers. A clean and orderly city must not come at the cost of livelihoods,” the statement said.
It further urged the AMA to stay resolute despite recent calls from the Union of Informal Workers Association (UIWA) to postpone the operation. It noted that adequate consultations had already taken place and that space was made available in designated markets.
The statement appealed for full public cooperation and emphasized that building a modern and dignified Accra was a shared responsibility.
The United Press for Development Network is a pan-African organization committed to advancing media freedom, good governance, environmental sustainability, and development journalism through advocacy, capacity building, and international cooperation.
GNA
