The Union of Informal Workers Association (UIWA) of the Trades Union Congress (TUC) has appealed to the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) and the Korle Klottey Municipal Assembly (KOKMA) to extend the May 20 deadline set for a planned decongestion exercise that will affect traders operating on pavements and other unauthorised public spaces.

According to the association, the exercise, if carried out as scheduled, could have severe consequences on the livelihoods of many informal workers, particularly women and youth who depend on daily trading to sustain themselves and their families.

In a recent statement, UIWA believes that while decongestion may be necessary to ensure order and accessibility, it must be done with careful consideration of its social and economic impact.

The Mayor of Accra, Michael Kpakpo Allotey, on May 15, 2025, announced the commencement of a city-wide decongestion exercise beginning Tuesday, May 20, 2025, targeting the Central Business District (CBD) and key parts of the metropolis, including Okaishie, Kwame Nkrumah Interchange, and Kaneshie.

He pointed out that the streets were not meant for trading but for vehicular and pedestrian use, stressing that allowing continued trading posed a threat to public safety and urban mobility.

According to the Mayor, the exercise would commence in Okaishie and move through Circle to Kaneshie, adding that the situation had become critical, with traders now occupying not only pavements but large portions of roads, obstructing movement and endangering lives.

He disclosed that prior consultations had been held with market leaders, security agencies, and transport unions, and confirmed that available space exists in designated markets for affected traders.

MRA/AE

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