AMA to Embark On Massive Decongestion Exercise

The Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) is to embark on a massive decongestion exercise in the central business district of Accra after the refusal of hawkers to use the Pedestrian Shopping Mall. The Ga Traditional Council has performed the necessary traditional rites to officially open the Shopping Mall.

Briefing the Media on AMA's decision over the issue, Mr. Ali Baba Abature, Head of Public Affairs Department of the AMA said they had turned a blind eye to the activities of the hawkers because of the AMA's inability to allow the Ga Traditional Council to perform the traditional rites in the Pedestrian Shopping Mall.

He pointed out that now that the traditional rites had been performed, the AMA expected those who had stalls at the place to start using them or risk loosing them.

"We are expecting the traders to fill the shelves now that the traditional rites have been performed or loose it to a different person when the AMA confiscates it", he said.

He noted that the AMA will in collaboration with the Ministry of Information and National Orientation, Ministry of Women and Children's Affairs, Ministry of Interior and all the stakeholders in the Metropolitan Assembly embark on a "serious decongestion exercise in the Central business district of Accra and would this time not spare anyone when caught".

Mr. Abature explained that the Ga Traditional Council had done her part in performing the rites and after various consultations with them, had decided not to involve them while the AMA and its stakeholders embarked on the decongestion exercise.

Addressing the media on the Ga Traditional Council's stand in performing the traditional rites, Numo Blafo Akotia Omeitu III, Ga Blafo Wulomo, said it was the prerogative of the Ga Traditional Council to perform the rites in the shopping mall to protect all the traders from the spiritual attacks of the evil one and to enable them carry on their activities smoothly.

He said the AMA had received various complaints from the traders that since the rites had not performed, they were not going to sell in the Shopping Mall.

He continued that, now that the traditional rites had been performed, the Ga Traditional Council expected the traders to go back to the mall and leave the streets.

He noted there was a delay in performing the traditional rites because of the Homowo Festival.

Numo Oneitu explained that the traditional rites were not the first of its kind as it has been performed in all the markets within the Greater Accra Region.

He spoke on behalf of the Nai Wulomo and other Traditional Priests in the Ga Traditional Council.

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