Zero traffic, zero business in Accra

Accra, Jan. 27, GNA - Saturday January 27 2007 would go down the annals as the day Accra stood still. The shops were closed; market stalls were empty; the car parks had a few vehicles sitting and traffic on the roads was very thin.

The reason was very simple - The Ga State was mourning Ga Mantse, Boni Nii Amugi II.

Though only few streets were officially closed at the request of the Ga Traditional Council because of the funeral, the whole Metropolis remained calm.

The heavy motor traffic that usually characterized the Central Bussiness District city was completely absent while the street hawkers were nowhere to be found.

When Ghana News Agency (GNA) went round in the morning and later in the afternoon, only a few newspapers vendors could be seen trying to sell newspapers.

The usual busy and congested places like the Opera Square; Okaishie and James Town, all in the Accra Central Business District, and the Kaneshie Market area were without their usual hustle and bustle. Meanwhile, there was near stampede, congestions and traffic jam throughout the whole day at the Ga Mantse's Palace and its environs, where the funeral rites of Nii Amugi II was held.

The mourners insisted that the few vehicles that passed the area had a piece of red bad to indicate the occupants were also mourning.