{
  "id": 12851123,
  "title": "We’ll return; Villagio is not a market, don’t turn it into one – Ayawaso West MCE warns traders",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/08/well-return-villagio-is-not-a-market-dont-turn-it-into-one-ayawaso",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-08T10:49:26.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Adom Online",
    "slug": "adom-online",
    "url": "https://www.adomonline.com/well-return-villagio-is-not-a-market-dont-turn-it-into-one-ayawaso-west-mce-warns-traders/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Ayawaso West Municipal Chief Executive Michael Mensah has cautioned traders against returning to the Villagio area to conduct business, emphasizing that the residential enclave is not intended to become a market. The remarks come after a recent clearance operation by the municipal taskforce aimed at removing an unauthorized market that had sprung up in the area. In an interview on Adom FM’s Dwaso Nsem, Mr. Mensah explained that the assembly had cleared the site multiple times, but traders consistently returned and resumed their operations. \"We have cleared the area several times, but they always come back. That place is not a market, so we shouldn’t turn it into one,\" he stated. Following the clearance on Wednesday, traders began returning the following morning. Mr. Mensah reiterated that the assembly will persist with enforcement actions to deter traders from settling in unauthorized spaces. He emphasized that Villagio is a residential area and must not be transformed into a market. Additionally, the MCE highlighted ongoing enforcement difficulties in the vicinity of the University of Professional Studies, Accra (UPSA), where traders continue to sell from the median despite prior clearances. \"Around UPSA too, we have cleared the area, but people are still selling within the median. So we will sustain this effort,\" he added. Future enforcement measures may involve the seizure of traders' goods. The MCE urged traders to heed the warning and avoid the Villagio area, stressing that the assembly will continue its efforts to prevent unauthorized trading in residential and other restricted zones.",
  "summary": "Ayawaso West Municipal Chief Executive, Michael Mensah, has warned traders against returning to the Villagio area to conduct business, stressing that the residential enclave is not a market and must not be turned into one. His comments follow a fresh clearance exercise by the municipal taskforce to remove an unauthorised market that had developed in […]",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Adom Online",
        "title": "Ayawaso West Assembly cracks down on unauthorised market near Villagio",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/08/ayawaso-west-assembly-cracks-down-on-unauthorised-market-near-villagio",
        "published": "2026-10-08T10:23:25.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}