AMA begins clearing hawkers

...from pavements, streets
The Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) Task Force on Thursday faced a hectic time when they began a process to clear hawkers and squatters from pavements in the city.
When the Metro Guards, popularly called "Abaa ee", reached the pavement in front of the Rent Control Office, near Tema Station, an angry hawker, who claimed he was assaulted, bolted with the ignition key of a Nissan pickup belonging to Ayawaso Sub-Metro.

A large crowd poured into the area as the drama unfolded. The guards were stranded and the vehicle with registration number GW 7165 R was stuck in the middle of the road. Some of the Metro Guards went back to their office for a spare key, which enabled them to move the vehicle from the middle of the road.

The hawker was said to have bolted with the key after the guards allegedly assaulted him for selling on the pavement. While some of the angry hawkers rained insults and hooted at the AMA guards for taking their items away, others called for the destruction of the vehicle.

The hawkers complained about the action of the Metro Guards saying it was denying them their daily bread. The AMA announced on Wednesday that it would undertake an exercise to rid the pavements and streets in the metropolis of hawkers and squatters.
The exercise is in accordance with the assembly's byelaws that prohibit selling on the streets. Metro guards have been detailed to various areas such as the Accra Central, Kojo Thompson and Kinbu Roads and the Independence Avenue to stop traders from selling at those places.