Accra Mayor Orders Clearance of Unauthorized Bus Stops, Gives Traders 48 Hours to Vacate

The Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) has issued a 48-hour ultimatum to traders operating at unauthorized bus stops to cease operations and vacate the sites or face enforcement action, including possible prosecution.

In a press statement issued on Wednesday, November 4, the AMA said the directive is aimed at restoring order in public spaces across the capital, easing traffic congestion, and ensuring bus stops serve their intended purpose. The decision follows persistent complaints from commercial drivers that traders and street vendors have occupied designated loading and unloading points, making it difficult for commercial vehicles to pick up and drop off passengers and obstructing pedestrian movement.

The Assembly noted that the situation has not only worsened traffic congestion but also forced passengers to board and alight at unsafe locations, increasing the risk of road accidents. Accra Mayor Michael Kpakpo Allotey has already led the initial phase of the exercise, which saw vendors removed from unauthorized spaces around the Kwame Nkrumah Interchange, Achimota, and parts of the Central Business District.

The Assembly warned that enforcement will be intensified after the 48-hour grace period, with offenders sanctioned under the Assembly's bylaws. It added that any cleared areas reoccupied by traders will also face further legal action, including prosecution. The statement, signed by Head of Public Affairs Gilbert Nii Ankrah on behalf of the Metropolitan Chief Executive, reaffirmed the Assembly's commitment to maintaining public order and road safety.

About Accra Mayor Michael Kpakpo Allotey

Michael Kpakpo Allotey is the current Mayor of Accra and Metropolitan Chief Executive of the Accra Metropolitan Assembly. Before his appointment, he spent years in the private sector, serving as Chief Executive Officer of Our God Is Good Company Limited, a real estate firm, where he led several housing development projects. He also held senior management positions at KYG Consult and Lubricants and EXOLUBE Company, and served as Transport Manager at DIMD Ghana, where he drove logistics reforms to improve operational efficiency.

On the political front, Allotey is a member of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and served as Operations Director for the Okaikwei South Constituency from January to December 2024, where he was responsible for grassroots mobilization and constituency coordination. In May 2025, he was confirmed as Mayor of Accra with 100 percent endorsement from assembly members. Since taking office, his priorities have included a 24-hour sanitation operation, infrastructure development, and restoring order in the Central Business District.