The Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) has issued a final warning to traders operating on the streets of Lapaz to immediately vacate the roadside or face enforcement actions.

The directive was delivered during a visit to the area on Thursday, May 7, by the Greater Accra Regional Minister, Linda Ocloo, the Mayor of Accra, Michael Nii Kpakpo Allotey, Municipal Chief Executive of Okaikwei North Municipal Assembly, Christian Tetteh Badger and other officials from the metropolis as part of renewed efforts to decongest the area.

The traders have been given a seven-day ultimatum to leave the streets, with authorities indicating that sanctions will be applied after the deadline if they fail to comply.

As part of temporary arrangements, some affected traders have been relocated to nearby markets, including Achimota, Kisseman, and Abeka markets, while longer-term measures are being developed to accommodate them.

Speaking on the exercise, the MCE Christian Tetteh Badger explained that the decongestion drive is aimed at restoring order and improving pedestrian and vehicular movement in the area.

According to him, prior engagements had been held with market leaders, including the market queen, urging them to provide space allocation lists to ensure fair distribution among traders.

He added that necessary engineering and task force arrangements had been made to ensure strict enforcement, to clear the area to allow for the free movement of both pedestrians and vehicles.

“The Information Services Department van came around last week to issue a one-week ultimatum, directing that by next Monday, no one should be selling on the streets or on the zebra crossing”, he said.