AMA Gets Tough On Hawkers

The Chief Executive of the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) Mr. Solomon Darko says all is set to eject street hawkers from the pavements in the Central Business District (CBD) to allow free flow of traffic.

Speaking at a press conference in Accra yesterday the City Mayor said that the traders have refused to heed to the amicable approach to move into the market place for the past five months, so this time AMA would resort to every means at its disposal to eject them. He added that there is lots of space in almost all the markets therefore "we are going to move them in there".

Mr. Darko however said, "we do not want to use force. It is a thing of the past." He urged the traders to move to the markets which are the designated place to sell or else force would be applied.

On moves to abate noise in the metropolis, Mr. Solomon Darko disclosed that a 50 Member Task Force being inaugurated today will move into the city to arrest those who make noise beyond their confines after 11pm.

He told The Accra Daily Mail that the task force, consisting of the Police, AMA City Guards and personnel from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), would with the help of special equipment measure the level of noise. He said their main target is to stop "illegal" churches that make noise at residential areas.

He urged vehicle owners to park at designated places since it is against the AMA byelaws to park at unapproved place. He said there are about 1750 parking spaces in the CBD and people should cultivate the habit of parking there.

The Chief Executive flanked by his heads of department said the AMA would embark on a massive education campaign to sensitize the public on their byelaws through public address systems and the media. AMA will start what he called Community Base cleaning which means that contracts would be rewarded to people in their own communities.