The Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) has reintroduced the ‘Redline’ initiative to tackle persistent street trading on pavements and road shoulders, which continues to obstruct traffic and pedestrian movement in the capital.
AMA Chief Executive, Michael Kpakpo Allotey, announced the move during a personal inspection on July 15, citing traders’ refusal to heed repeated eviction notices as the reason for the renewed enforcement.
“The women say they don’t want the shops we’re proposing, but that area is not even a place to sell,” Mayor Allotey stated.
“We are considering allowing them to sell on the pavement using the Redline, which you know about.”
While the AMA plans to demarcate trading zones, he also revealed that a private individual had offered to build small, affordable shops for the women vendors — though many remain skeptical and uncertain about relocation.
The ‘Redline’ system, first introduced by former Mayor Alfred Oko Vanderpuije, aims to manage street trading without total displacement.
The AMA maintains it is committed to balancing urban order with compassion for traders.
The Redline reinstatement comes amid the city’s ongoing decongestion exercise launched on May 20, targeting illegal structures and unregulated vending activities to improve urban mobility and safety.
