Ghanaian Traders Back on Pavements a Day After AMA Decongestion Exercise

• Ghanaian traders who were sent away on Tuesday, May 20, 2025, have returned to the streets with their trading activities
• In a video, the traders were seen with their goods arranged and calling on prospective buyers to come to them
• Netizens who saw the video expressed mixed reactions in the comments, with some critical and others sympathetic

Just a day after the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) carried out a decongestion exercise to clear unauthorised traders from major roads and pavements in the city, many of the displaced vendors have returned to their usual spots, defying the directives of city authorities.

On Tuesday, May 20, 2025, the AMA, supported by city task forces and security personnel, undertook a massive operation to rid the streets of hawkers, food vendors, and other illegal traders s as part of efforts to restore order and improve pedestrian movement in the capital.

However, by Wednesday morning, traders had begun trooping back to the same locations, resuming business as usual.

Videos which has surfaced on social media showed traders seated with their goods in areas like Kantamanto, Kwame Nkrumah Circle and Kaneshie.

These traders had openly arranged their products on display and were selling, contrary to AMA's recent directives.

Watch the video below:

Traders share their plights over AMA decongestion

During the exercise, some traders opened up about their plights with the ongoing AMA decongestion. Many indicated that they had nowhere to go and conduct business apart from where they had been evicted.

Some indicated that they have families to take care of, which is why they took to the streets to ply their trade.

One woman broke down into uncontrollable tears when she was approached by the AMA boss and asked to evacuate, saying that she had no place to go and sell her goods instead.

Regardless, the AMA boss remained firm and sacked the traders who were selling along the shoulders of the roads in Accra, Kaneshie, Kwame Nkrumah Circle, and other areas.

Netizens react to Accra street traders returning

Netizens who saw the video of the women selling on the pavements expressed mixed reactions in the post's comments section.

While some sympathised with the traders, others called them out for breaching the AMA directive so openly.

@SamTuga44 wrote:

"Normally black man en ear really hard pass goat lol."

@iamedemgabby2 wrote:

"Are we not a different kind of breed in this country?"

@m_artinezyrn wrote:

"If you take demma things too case."

@BrownWizzle wrote:

"We look forward to change, even though we find ourselves in a position where change feels beyond our reach."

@IneosGh wrote:

"Most of them are Ga. They believe the land belongs to them. We must change the capital town."

Woman regrets voting NDC after AMA decongestion

YEN.com.gh also reported that a Ghanaian trader slammed the current administration over the recent decongestion exercise led by the AMA.

In a video, she expressed regret in voting for President John Mahama, recalling how former President Nana Akufo-Addo had left them to trade on the streets.

Netizens who saw the video expressed mixed reactions, as some sympathised with her and the others trying to make a living, while others criticised her.

Proofreading by Bruce Douglas, copy editor at YEN.com.gh.

Source: YEN.com.gh