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SOME MEMBERS of the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) taskforce have decided to use force to clear the streets of the Central Business District of Accra by beating traders who insist on selling at the edges of the streets with sticks.

Angry looking members of the taskforce on Friday January 23, 2015 pounced on some of the traders selling opposite the Ghana Law School at Makola in Accra beating them with sticks for selling on the streets.

One of the traders could not stand the beatings and was seen shaking on the floor but had to be helped by other traders.

Some pedestrians who could not stand the attitude of the taskforce members saved the traders.

The incident nearly degenerated into a serious fight between the taskforce members and the traders as they rushed to the rescue of their friends who were subjected to beatings by the taskforce.

After the beatings, some of the traders began cursing the taskforce members and said selling on the streets was their only means of survival, hence, could not go anywhere to sell.

The pedestrians also took time to calm the angry taskforce members and advised them to exercise patience in their line of work and not beat the traders because it was unfair to treat them that way.

But, the AMA Chief Executive, Alfred Okoe Vanderpuije, in an interview with the paper yesterday condemned the act and said that it was unacceptable on the part of the taskforce members to beat any trader.

Mr. Vanderpuije noted that the taskforce is not mandated to beat any trader selling on the streets of Accra.