Traders in central Accra who consistently operate within the red lines could receive a Christmas package worth GH¢1,000, the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) has said.
The incentive is part of measures announced by Accra Mayor Michael Kpakpo Allotey on Saturday, November 7, after the November edition of the National Sanitation Day exercise.
AMA task forces will carry out surprise inspections in the city centre. Traders will be assessed on several occasions, rather than during a single visit, with rewards given to those who repeatedly comply with the assembly’s instructions.
“We are putting our packages together. Some of them are worth GH¢1,000. When we randomly return to town and realise that you have consistently stayed within your designated space, we will monitor you on three or four occasions. If you are found complying with the directive, we will give you this package of GH¢1,000,” Allotey said.
The mayor also directed hawkers operating from bus stops in the central business district to leave immediately. He said the terminals were intended solely for commercial passenger vehicles and could not be used for trading.
Traders who asked for additional time to remove their goods have been given until Monday, November 9, to comply.
AMA task forces will confiscate any items left at bus stops after the deadline and donate them to a children’s home, Allotey warned.
He added that traders working on officially demarcated pavements would be allowed to continue, provided they stayed behind the red lines and did not block commuters using public transport.
Traffic plan for Christmas trading
To reduce congestion during the festive period, the AMA and neighbouring Korle Klottey Municipal Assembly are developing a joint traffic arrangement called “Operation Let the Traffic Flow”.
The plan will involve closing selected streets in the metropolis to vehicles and allocating them for trading between 6:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. Alternative routes will remain available for motorists and pedestrians.
Korle Klottey Municipal Chief Executive Alfred Allotey Gaisie said preparations between the two assemblies were about 80 per cent complete.
He said technical assessments were still being finalised, after which the assemblies would announce the affected streets and the dates on which the closures would begin.
Michael Kpakpo Allotey, who became Mayor of Accra in May 2025, said the enforcement and reward measures were intended to encourage traders to respect designated spaces while allowing the city to manage activity during the Christmas season.