ACCRA cannot continue to function properly if every available public space is turned into a marketplace.
The decision by the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) to give traders occupying designated bus stops 48 hours to vacate the areas is, therefore, a necessary step towards restoring order in the capital.
Bus stops serve a simple but important purpose. They provide designated places for commercial vehicles to pick up and drop off passengers safely.
When traders take over these spaces, the consequences are felt by commuters, drivers and other road users.
Passengers are forced to wait in inconvenient or unsafe locations, while drivers struggle to stop and load passengers. Vehicles may also slow down or stop in the middle of the road, creating avoidable congestion.
What should be an orderly transport system becomes another source of frustration for people already battling Accra’s notorious traffic.
The situation is particularly concerning in the central business district, where congestion is a daily challenge. It is unreasonable to expect commercial drivers to operate efficiently when the very facilities provided for their use have been taken over by trading activities.
The AMA is right to insist that designated bus stops must be returned to their intended purpose. Its concerns have also been reinforced by complaints from commercial drivers, who depend on these facilities to provide their services.
The return of Ayalolo buses makes the matter even more urgent. Some of the bus stops originally designated for the service have reportedly been occupied by traders and other commercial activities.
These facilities must be reclaimed if the service is to operate effectively and commuters are to enjoy the benefits of an organised public transport system.
However, the Assembly must understand that issuing ultimatums and deploying task forces cannot, on their own, provide a lasting solution.
Accra has witnessed several decongestion exercises over the years, often followed by the return of traders to the same locations once enforcement officers leave.
That cycle must end. The AMA should ensure that the 48-hour ultimatum is followed by consistent and impartial enforcement.
Traders who disregard the directive must face the consequences under the relevant by-laws. At the same time, enforcement must be lawful, fair and free from political favouritism or selective application.
The Assembly must also address the circumstances that drive people into unauthorised trading spaces.
While the need to earn a living is understandable, economic hardship cannot justify the occupation of public transport facilities.
The authorities should work with market leaders and other stakeholders to identify suitable trading locations where possible, without compromising public safety and the free movement of people.
The red-line policy, which the AMA says is yielding some improvement in the central business district, must also be applied consistently.
Public education is important, but it cannot become an excuse for tolerating persistent violations. Traders who have been warned repeatedly cannot reasonably claim ignorance of the rules.
There is also a responsibility on commercial drivers and commuters to support the exercise. Drivers must use designated stops rather than pick up passengers indiscriminately, while the public should resist patronising traders who occupy spaces meant for transport operations.
Ultimately, Accra’s development depends not only on major roads, flyovers and transport projects but also on how well existing public facilities are managed.
A bus stop is not a market, and a pavement is not an extension of a shop.
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