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Ayawaso West Municipal Assembly orders 37 Military Hospital traders to vacate
•2 min read•1 source
The Ayawaso West Municipal Assembly (AWMA) has issued a one-week ultimatum to traders operating on the pedestrian walkway near the 37 Military Hospital in Accra to vacate the area. This directive follows growing concerns over the obstruction of pedestrian movement and the proliferation of unauthorized structures in one of the capital's busiest hospital vicinities. The assembly’s task force issued the warning on Monday, emphasizing that the measure is necessary to restore order and ensure the safety of commuters. According to the assembly, the targeted traders have set up various unauthorized stalls and structures that significantly impede the flow of traffic on the designated pedestrian paths. During an inspection and sensitization exercise, officials from the task force marked several structures for removal. The assembly noted that these activities not only violate municipal bylaws regarding street hawking and the use of public spaces but also pose a security risk in a high-traffic zone serving a major medical facility. The task force has warned that it will conduct a forced removal exercise once the seven-day deadline expires. Traders who fail to comply with the directive will have their structures demolished, and any goods or equipment found on the walkway may be confiscated. The assembly stated that previous attempts to encourage voluntary relocation had been ignored, necessitating a firmer approach to reclaiming the public space for its intended purpose. This move by the Ayawaso West Municipal Assembly is part of a broader effort by local authorities in the Greater Accra Region to sanitize major road corridors and improve urban mobility. Residents and commuters have often complained about the difficulty of navigating the 37 Military Hospital area due to the congestion caused by informal trading. By enforcing these regulations, the assembly aims to provide a clearer, safer environment for the thousands of patients and pedestrians who use the walkway daily.