Accra: The United Press for Development Network (UPDN) has praised the Mayor of Accra, Mr. Michael Kpakpo Allotey, for his leadership in the effort to decongest Ghana’s capital city.

According to Ghana News Agency, UPDN issued a statement commending the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) for initiating a major urban decongestion exercise set to commence on Tuesday, May 20, 2025. The statement, signed by Reverend Kofi Asante Mensah, President of UPDN, highlighted the initiative’s potential to restore public order, improve pedestrian safety, and enhance urban sanitation through strict enforcement of existing bye-laws and traffic regulations.

The statement emphasized the Mayor’s determination to implement the AMA Hawkers Bye-Laws (2017) and Section 117(1) of the Road Traffic Regulations (L.I. 2180). It noted the collaborative effort involving various stakeholders such as the AMA, Korle-Klottey Municipal Assembly (KoKMA), the Ghana Police Service, market leaders, and transport unions, describing it as a model of responsible city governance.

According to UPDN, such cooperation among multiple stakeholders is essential for effective and lasting urban transformation. The statement called for this initiative to be replicated by other Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Assemblies (MMDAs) while cautioning against politicizing the exercise.

The statement also acknowledged the challenges faced by informal sector workers, emphasizing the need for inclusive development. It urged the government to expand existing market infrastructure to provide viable options for displaced hawkers, asserting that a clean and orderly city should not compromise livelihoods.

The statement further urged the AMA to remain steadfast despite requests from the Union of Informal Workers Association (UIWA) to postpone the operation, noting that adequate consultations had already occurred and that space had been made available in designated markets. It appealed for public cooperation, emphasizing that building a modern and dignified Accra is a collective responsibility.

The United Press for Development Network is a pan-African organization dedicated to promoting media freedom, good governance, environmental sustainability, and development journalism through advocacy, capacity building, and international cooperation.