<<Print>>

A nationwide eviction exercise is to be carried out to rid pavements and shoulders of roads of traders and vendors.

The exercise is to be embarked upon by an inter-ministerial committee that comprises of the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development, the Ministry of Roads and Highways and the Ministry of Inner Cities and Zongo Development.
 
The Minister of Roads and Highways, Mr Kwasi Amoako-Attah, who gave the hint yesterday during an inspection tour of some roads and drainage systems in Mamobi and Madina in Accra, said the exercise would be launched soon.

Rationale

The minister said the planned exercise was to discourage traders and vendors from displaying their wares on pavements and portions of the roads. 

“We shall clear people from the road corridors. The time has come to call a spade a spade. We will not allow this to go on,” he said.

Mr Amoako-Attah was accompanied by the Minister of Inner Cities and Zongo Development, Alhaji  Abubakar Saddique Boniface, the Deputy Minister of Roads and Highways, Mr Anthony Karbo, and the Director of Urban Roads, Mr Abass Awolu.

Reaction

Mr Amoako-Attah expressed shock at the massive display of wares on the pavements and shoulders of roads in Madina (The Zongo Junction section).

The minister personally pushed down some plastic materials that covered major parts of the pavements and sides of the roads.

He instructed the owners to send their goods inside their shops, which they complied with.

Mr Amoako-Attah said the display of assorted items on the pavements was compelling pedestrians to walk on the main roads, thereby endangering their lives.

He said although the government wanted Ghanaians to transact their businesses, it would ensure that such activities did not pose danger to the lives of others.

Nima-Mamobi drain

During an inspection of the Nima-Mamobi Drain project, it came out that some residents had turned the 2.5 metres wide covered drain into their sleeping place.

The consultant of the project, Mr Wise Apetepe, told the ministers and their team that the activities of residents were delaying the execution of the project.

He said work on the 0.9 kilometres drain, which began in 2015, would be completed in three months’ time.

Zongo development

For his part, Alhaji Boniface, who is the Member of Parliament (MP) for Madina, said the joint inspection tour was intended to address the infrastructural challenges facing the Zongos and inner cities.

He mentioned improvements of roads and drains and the promotion of various cultural activities in the Zongos as some of the activities that would be executed in those areas.