“I Have Not Wronged Anyone, But Mahama Says We Shouldn’t Work Here” – Ghanaian Youth

A coconut seller in Ghana has expressed frustration over the ongoing decongestion exercise, claiming that he is being forced to leave his trading spot despite believing he has done nothing wrong.

In a video shared by Asempa 94.7 FM on Friday, October 9, 2026, the trader explained that several people who depend on street trading for their livelihoods are being ordered to vacate the areas where they operate.

According to him, the authorities have indicated that the decision follows a directive from President John Dramani Mahama, which means traders are no longer permitted to conduct business in the affected area.

The seller’s complaint has drawn attention to the difficulties faced by small-scale traders who depend on their daily sales to support themselves and their families.

For many young Ghanaians, street trading provides an important source of income, particularly at a time when finding formal employment remains a challenge. The trader’s appeal has therefore prompted discussions about how decongestion exercises affect people who rely on informal businesses to survive.

The video has generated mixed reactions on social media, with users expressing different opinions about the government’s efforts to clear unauthorised trading areas.

Some commenters have supported the exercise, arguing that traders should operate only in designated locations rather than occupy any available space. They believe enforcing existing regulations is necessary to maintain order and ensure that public spaces are used appropriately.

Others have stressed that the rules should apply equally to everyone, regardless of political affiliation. According to these commenters, the decongestion exercise should be viewed as part of a broader effort to improve urban management and support the country’s development.

Several social media users have also argued that allowing unauthorised trading to continue could contribute to congestion and make it difficult for pedestrians and motorists to move freely.

However, other reactions have been more sceptical, with some users questioning how the issue has been presented in the media. Others responded with jokes and comments about the responsibilities of political leaders and citizens in improving the country’s economic conditions.

The debate reflects a wider challenge facing Ghana’s urban centres: balancing the need for orderly public spaces with the economic realities of people who depend on informal trading.

While authorities may consider decongestion necessary to ease traffic, improve sanitation and enforce regulations, the exercise can also leave traders worried about losing their sources of income.

For affected sellers, being removed from a familiar trading location could mean losing regular customers and facing uncertainty about how to earn a living.

A possible way forward would involve providing accessible and affordable market spaces where traders can continue their businesses legally. Clear communication about the rules and adequate opportunities to relocate could also help reduce the difficulties faced by those affected.

As the discussion continues, the coconut seller’s complaint has brought renewed attention to the need to consider both urban order and the livelihoods of ordinary Ghanaians.

Ultimately, the challenge is to ensure that decongestion efforts achieve their intended purpose without unnecessarily worsening the economic difficulties of vulnerable traders.

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