The Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) has intensified its enforcement drive to clear unauthorised structures and reclaim public spaces in parts of the capital, as authorities step up efforts to address sanitation challenges and improve urban order under renewed leadership directives.
The Mayor of Accra, Michael Kpakpo Allotey, has directed that “no hawking, trading or unauthorised activity should take place under the Kwame Nkrumah Interchange,” warning that offenders would be prosecuted as the Assembly moves to restore compliance with city by-laws.
He issued the directive while leading a team of AMA officers on a clearance exercise targeting food vendors, beggars and persons sleeping under the Korle Klottey section of the bridge. The operation formed part of a broader working visit to the Okaikoi South Sub-Metropolitan District to inspect building permits, sanitation conditions and adherence to regulatory standards.
Speaking during the exercise, the Mayor stated that the Assembly would “no longer tolerate the use of the space under the interchange for commercial activities, food vending, sleeping or any other unauthorised purpose”, stressing the need to keep public areas clean, safe and free from obstruction.
He further cautioned that anyone found engaging in such activities would be “dealt with according to law,” adding that the enforcement action is part of wider efforts aimed at “restoring order and improving sanitation within the city.”
As part of the operation, the team cleared makeshift structures and other unauthorised developments that had occupied sections of the area, which officials say have created insanitary conditions and posed safety risks to motorists and pedestrians.
Before the interchange exercise, the Mayor also led a task force to demolish illegal wooden structures along the shoulder of the Otublohum Road near the Circle VVIP Station. He explained that such developments contributed to “congestion, poor sanitation and obstruction of public spaces,” warning that the Assembly would continue firm enforcement against unauthorised construction.
In a related directive, the Mayor instructed owners of drinking spots, managers of the VVIP Station, and cattle owners operating along Otublohum Road to desilt the choked gutters within 24 hours or face sanctions, reinforcing his description of the need for strict adherence to sanitation responsibilities.
The AMA maintains that it will continue to enforce its bylaws on sanitation, building permits, and public order, urging residents, traders, and transport operators to support efforts aimed at making Accra clean, safe, and orderly.
The latest operations reflect a stepped-up effort by city authorities to clear congested spaces and remove structural and environmental blockages that have been linked to flooding and sanitation challenges. The interventions are being presented as part of a renewed phase of enforcement, with growing public expectation that the actions will be sustained to support long-term urban order and improve what residents describe as declining environmental discipline in parts of the city.
