AMA can’t remove traders from bus stops because it depends on their revenue – Drivers Union PRO

Yaw Berimah, the Public Relations Officer of the True Drivers Union, has criticized the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) for relying on revenue collected from traders operating in unauthorized locations. Berimah explained this situation during a discussion on Adom FM’s Burning Issues, questioning how the AMA could enforce an evacuation of these traders when it continues to receive financial benefits from them.

He emphasized that as long as the Assembly continues to issue tickets to traders, they will remain in place, thus obstructing the efforts to restore order at bus stops and commercial areas. Berimah suggested that the AMA should cease collecting revenue from these traders if it truly intends to clear these spaces. This issue has been exacerbated by the introduction of the Police’s TraffiTech-GH system on November 1, 2026, which aims to enforce traffic laws through automated cameras.

Commercial drivers have been frustrated as traders have taken over designated bus stops and pavements, limiting their ability to serve customers without being penalized for stopping outside these areas. A threat of a nationwide strike by five transport unions was averted after a meeting with the Interior Minister, who reportedly committed to clearing all bus stops by the end of November.

Accra Mayor Michael Kpakpo Allotey has issued a 48-hour ultimatum for traders to vacate these locations, warning that no one will be allowed to sell at bus stops after this deadline. The mayor's directive is a response to the growing tensions between transport operators and authorities, with the evacuation deadline approaching and the fate of these enforcement measures hanging in the balance.