AMA to Offer GH¢1,000 Christmas Package to Traders Who Comply With Line Directive

The Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) has announced plans to offer a GH¢1,000 Christmas package to traders who comply with its directive to operate within designated trading lines, as part of efforts to maintain order, improve sanitation and reduce congestion in the capital.

The announcement was made by Accra Mayor, Michael Kpakpo Allotey, during the November edition of the National Sanitation Day exercise held on Saturday, November 7, 2026.

According to the Mayor, the initiative is intended to encourage traders to respect the Assembly’s red-line restrictions while recognising those who cooperate with efforts to regulate commercial activities in the city.

He explained that traders would not qualify for the package merely by complying during a single inspection. Instead, the AMA would conduct random monitoring exercises on three or four occasions to determine whether beneficiaries consistently operate within their designated spaces.

Mr Allotey urged traders to remain within the approved boundaries, warning that trading beyond the designated lines contributes to traffic congestion and obstructs the free movement of pedestrians.

He also directed traders operating at bus stops within the Central Business District to vacate the areas, emphasising that the facilities are intended for public transport operations and should not be occupied by commercial activities.

The Mayor disclosed that traders who had requested additional time to relocate had been given until Monday, November 9, 2026, to remove their goods. Items left behind after the deadline, he warned, would be confiscated and donated to a children’s home.

Meanwhile, the AMA is collaborating with the Korle Klottey Municipal Assembly to implement an initiative known as “Operation Let the Traffic Flow” ahead of the Christmas festivities.

Under the proposed arrangement, selected streets will be designated for trading between 6:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m., while alternative routes will be maintained to ensure the continuous movement of vehicles.

Korle Klottey Municipal Chief Executive, Alfred Allotey Gaisie, disclosed that preparations for the initiative were approximately 80 per cent complete, with further assessments expected before implementation.

The measures are expected to help the two assemblies manage increased commercial activities during the festive season while addressing unauthorised trading, improving pedestrian access and easing traffic congestion across parts of Accra.

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