The days of traders hawking their wares and vagrants seeking shelter beneath the Kwame Nkrumah Interchange may soon be over following a firm directive from the Chief Executive of the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA), Michael Kpakpo Allotey.

The Mayor has ordered an immediate halt to all unauthorised activities taking place under the iconic interchange, warning that individuals who fail to comply will face arrest and possible prosecution.

The directive was issued on Tuesday when Allotey led a team of AMA officers on an enforcement exercise beneath the Korle Klottey section of the interchange. The operation targeted food vendors, beggars and individuals who had turned the area into a place of residence, despite regulations prohibiting such activities.

The exercise formed part of the Mayor’s working visit to the Okaikoi South Sub-Metropolitan District, where he assessed sanitation conditions, reviewed building permit compliance and monitored adherence to Assembly by-laws.

Addressing officers and members of the public during the operation, Allotey stressed that the Assembly would no longer permit the space beneath the interchange to be used for commercial activities, food vending, sleeping or any other unauthorised purpose. According to him, the area must be maintained as a clean, safe and obstruction-free public space.

“Anyone found selling, hawking or engaging in any form of illegal activity under the interchange will be dealt with according to law,” Allotey warned, adding that the exercise formed part of broader efforts to restore order and improve sanitation within the city.

AMA officials removed makeshift structures and cleared unauthorised activities that had taken over sections of the area. Authorities say the growing occupation of the space had created unsanitary conditions while also posing safety risks to motorists, pedestrians and commuters who use the interchange daily.

For many city residents, the scene beneath the interchange has become symbolic of some of Accra’s persistent urban challenges, including congestion, poor sanitation and disregard for established regulations. The latest operation is therefore seen as part of a wider campaign by the Assembly to reclaim public spaces and improve the capital’s image.

Prior to the inspection under the interchange, the Mayor led a task force to demolish illegal wooden structures erected along the shoulder of Otublohum Road near the Circle VVIP Station. He noted that such structures often contribute to traffic congestion, obstruct public access and worsen sanitation challenges in the area.

Allotey warned that the AMA would continue to take decisive action against individuals and groups who erect structures without the necessary approval from the Assembly.

As part of the enforcement exercise, the Mayor also directed owners of drinking spots, managers of the VVIP Station and cattle owners operating along Otublohum Road to desilt choked gutters within 24 hours or face sanctions.

He reiterated the Assembly’s commitment to enforcing by-laws governing sanitation, building permits and public order. The Mayor further called on residents, traders, transport operators and business owners to cooperate with the AMA’s efforts to make Accra a cleaner, safer and more orderly city for all.