By: Kenneth Appiah Bani
Just a day after city authorities cleared the Neoplan Bus-Stop area as part of the ongoing decongestion exercise in Accra, squatters have returned to the site with their wares, defying the efforts of the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA).
A video sighted by A&C Empire Multimedia on the official Facebook page of JoyNews on Day 3 of the decongestion exercise captures scenes of traders back in their spots, some even more determined than before. Makeshift stalls, secondhand clothes, fruits, and household items now line the pedestrian walkways that were cleared less than 24 hours ago.
This development raises concerns about the sustainability of the decongestion operation, which aims to free up public spaces, improve sanitation, and ease vehicular and pedestrian movement in the capital. The return of the traders highlights the challenge of enforcement and the deep-rooted socio-economic realities many urban dwellers face.
“I have nowhere else to go,” one woman told JoyNews in the video. “This is how I feed my children. If they sack us again, we will still return.”
Urban management experts have long argued that until the city provides designated, affordable spaces for petty traders, such exercises will continue to be a temporary fix to a recurring problem.
The AMA is yet to release an official statement on the reoccupation of the cleared areas. However, many citizens online are expressing mixed reactions some empathize with the traders, while others call for stricter enforcement.
The Accra decongestion initiative is expected to continue throughout the week, with several hotspots including Circle, Kaneshie, and parts of Makola Market marked for further action. Whether the authorities will modify their approach to address the root causes of informal trading remains to be seen.
Video credit: joynews
Watch video:
