Accra Mayor Michael Kpakpo Allotey has announced a GH¢1,000 Christmas package for traders who comply with the Accra Metropolitan Assembly’s (AMA) red-line directive and trade only within designated areas as the Assembly intensifies efforts to ease congestion in the Central Business District (CBD).

The incentive is part of measures to get traders to vacate bus stops, keep roads and pedestrian walkways clear, and maintain order in Accra ahead of the Christmas festivities.

Announcing the package during the November edition of National Sanitation Day on Saturday, November 7, 2026, Mr Allotey said the Assembly was prepared to support traders who cooperate with its regulations while ensuring that commercial activities did not obstruct traffic and public transport operations.

He stressed that bus stops were strictly reserved for public transport services and directed traders operating from such locations to relocate immediately.

According to the Mayor, traders who had appealed for additional time until Monday to move their goods had been granted an extension. However, he warned that those who failed to comply would risk having their goods confiscated.

He further cautioned that items left at the bus stops after the deadline would not be returned to their owners but donated to a children's home.

Mr Allotey urged traders to respect the red-line markings and remain within approved trading spaces, insisting that the Assembly's intervention was not intended to drive businesses out of the Central Business District.

Rather, he said, the objective was to ensure that traders could continue earning a living without compromising the movement of vehicles, pedestrians and public transport.

He explained that the GH¢1,000 Christmas package was intended to demonstrate the Assembly's commitment to traders' welfare while encouraging them to take responsibility for maintaining order in the city. AMA, Korle Klottey plan designated Christmas trading streets As part of the broader congestion-management strategy, the AMA is collaborating with the Korle Klottey Municipal Assembly to designate selected streets for trading during the Christmas season under an initiative known as Operation Let the Traffic Flow.

The Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) for Korle Klottey, Alfred Allotey Gaisie, said the two assemblies were working on a coordinated arrangement to regulate commercial activities and ease traffic congestion across their adjoining jurisdictions.

He explained that the assemblies shared boundaries and served many of the same traders, making cooperation necessary to prevent conflicting enforcement measures and ensure effective traffic management.

Under the proposed arrangement, selected streets with heavy trading activity could be temporarily closed to vehicular traffic to allow traders to operate, while alternative routes would be maintained to facilitate the movement of vehicles.

Mr Gaisie disclosed that preparations for the initiative were approximately 80 per cent complete, with the assemblies expected to conduct further assessments before rolling out the arrangements.

The initiative is expected to provide designated spaces for traders during the busy festive season while reducing the pressure on roads and public transport terminals.

The two assemblies are therefore seeking to strike a balance between commercial activities and the need to keep Accra's busy streets accessible to motorists, commuters and pedestrians.

EA