Squatters who were evicted from the Kwame Nkrumah Interchange Neoplan Bus Stop on Wednesday, May 21, have returned less than 24 hours after a major decongestion exercise by the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA), defying city authorities and prompting renewed enforcement action.
The AMA cleared the bus stop as part of its ongoing efforts to reclaim pedestrian walkways and public transport points. However, officials say the squatters and hawkers have returned with their wares.
Speaking to JoyNews, Environmental Health Officer in charge of operations at the AMA, Mr. Joseph Asitanga, expressed frustration over the defiance and confirmed the assembly’s swift response.
“As part of the decongestion exercise, wherever we move to, we follow up to see whether whatever we did the previous day has been complied with. This is by-law enforcement. Bus stops are not meant for trading—they are meant only for passengers to transit. It is difficult getting people out of here,” he said.
He explained that upon receiving reports of the squatters’ return, his team immediately revisited the location to address the situation.
“So as we enforced the laws yesterday, this morning we got wind that they were back. When we got here, they had resurfaced with different setups and their items, so we had to come again to clean and tidy up the place,” he added.
The AMA insists the Neoplan Bus Stop must remain clear for its intended purpose—public transportation—not trading or squatting.
“Our aim is to ensure that the bus stop is free. The roads and pavements must be free. This is not a market where we do markings. This is a bus stop erected by the assembly, and our concern is that it remains free,” Mr. Asitanga emphasized.
To strengthen enforcement, Mr. Asitanga revealed that the AMA has decided to deploy three permanent guards to the bus stop.
“The director has mandated, through the National Security Coordinator, the deployment of three permanent security officers to ensure daily enforcement.
“We are going to make sure that this place stays as clean as it is now. Nobody will sell here. This is a bus stop. We are not demolishing anything—we are only clearing the bus stop of trading activities,” he stressed.
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