AMA to close selected streets in Accra for Christmas trading

The Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) plans to designate certain streets in the city for trading purposes between 6am and 6pm during the Christmas festivities. This initiative, dubbed "Operation Let the Traffic Flow," aims to manage congestion and ensure the smooth movement of both vehicles and pedestrians. Accra Mayor Michael Kpakpo Allotey announced these plans on November 7, 2026, during the National Sanitation Day celebrations.

The Assembly is collaborating with other sister assemblies to accommodate the anticipated surge in commercial activities during this festive season while maintaining order and accessibility, particularly in the Central Business District and surrounding areas. As part of the enforcement, traders operating at bus stops are required to vacate these spaces immediately, as they are exclusively reserved for public transport operations.

Those who seek an extension until Monday will be given more time to relocate, but goods left at bus stops after this deadline will be confiscated and donated to a children's home. The Mayor clarified that the measure does not intend to force traders off the pavements; those operating within officially designated areas can continue their activities as long as they stay beyond the marked lines.

The AMA states that these street arrangements are part of broader efforts to keep Accra accessible and reduce traffic congestion as commercial activity rises toward the end of the year.