Mayor of Accra, Michael Kpakpo Allotey, has directed traders operating along the road median in the Central Business District, particularly in front of the COCOBOD office, to vacate the area and not return.
He explained that the practice puts their lives at risk, given the heavy use of the route by buses.
The directive followed the Mayor’s visit to the scene of an accident on September 1, 2025, involving an Aayalolo bus that claimed one life and left several others injured.
After receiving a briefing on the incident, Mr. Allotey ordered an immediate evacuation of the pavements.
“From tomorrow morning, nobody should come and sell here again,” he cautioned.
“Anytime I ask you to leave this place, you say you are single mothers. Now one of you is dead,” he added.
The Mayor attributed the tragedy to traders extending their activities from the pavements onto the roadway. He stressed that the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) would strictly enforce its by-laws to decongest the Central Business District and prevent similar incidents.
Some traders, however, expressed displeasure with the order, insisting that relocating to the Makola and Kwasiagwaso markets would disrupt their livelihoods.
Eyewitnesses said the Aayalolo bus suffered brake failure and rammed into the traders shortly before 6:00 p.m., a busy period when shoppers had gathered to catch vehicles home. The impact killed a woman instantly, though her identity is yet to be confirmed by the Accra Regional Police Command. She is believed to have been in the area to shop.
Several traders along the median pavement sustained injuries, with many also losing their goods in the crash. The damaged bus has since been towed away from the scene.
