Former President of the Ghana Journalist Association, Affail Monney, has called for sustainability in the decongestion of Accra, which started yesterday, May 20.
During his appearance on the AM Show on Joy News on Wednesday, May 21, Mr. Monney stressed that the measures aimed at improving traffic flow in central Accra need to be sustainable to be effective.
“We are praying that sustainability will win at the end of the day. Otherwise it will amount to nothing. All these efforts will amount to nothing.”
He lamented that politicians’ desire to secure votes often takes precedence over ensuring pedestrian safety. He attributed the congestion to the failure to clear roadside traders, suggesting that the fear of electoral backlash deters politicians from taking decisive action.
“Political will in the past has been so conspicuous by its absence. During election time, people are allowed to do all kinds of things because of votes. Politicians will prioritize votes over what is needful to ensure that the safety of pedestrians guaranteed and business is also allowed to take its national course.”
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Mr. Monney advised that the media play a watchdog role by revisiting and assessing the impact of decongestion efforts in targeted areas to ensure that the initiatives are yielding the desired results.
“The media, in the name of comprehensive journalism, we are told that the exercise will last five days. After five days, we should go back there and look at how the place looks, who is negligent in doing his or her duty. We should expose all these characters and to ensure that official demos deal with them.”
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On Tuesday, May 20, 2025, the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) initiated a comprehensive decongestion operation in the Central Business District (CBD), aimed at eliminating unauthorized trading activities on streets and pavements and restoring traffic flow in the area.
The operation, expected to last for five days, targeted Kinbu Street and extended through Makola, CMB, Circle, and Kaneshie.
The mayor of Accra, Hon. Michael Kpakpo Allotey, has clarified that the operation was a necessary measure, rather than an act of aggression, aimed at restoring cleanliness and order to Accra, with the goal of making it a model capital city in the sub-region.
