Africa-Press – Ghana. The Ho Municipal Assembly, in collaboration with the National Road Safety Authority (NRSA), has commenced an exercise to decongest the Ho Central Business District (CBD).
The exercise will focus on clearing traders, hawkers, and drivers, who have taken over pedestrian walkways and major roads around the central market.
Mr Henry Yao Amesimeku, Ho Municipal Coordinating Director, explained that the congestion problem began last year, when commercial vehicles, traders, and food vendors gradually shifted their activities onto the main streets and walkways, creating severe traffic and safety risks.
“Vehicles now load on both sides of the road, reducing it to a single lane, which is extremely dangerous. Safety reports confirm this, and we cannot continue to allow people to trade or load in the middle of the street,” he said.
Mr Amesimeku noted that although attempts were made last year to address the issue, the exercise had to be suspended for various reasons.
Earlier this year, the Assembly resumed engagements with transport unions, meeting leadership over six times to ensure consensus before implementation.
As part of the preparation, the Assembly used radio announcements, information vans, and public education to sensitize drivers and traders.
On Monday, September 1, officials spent over five hours walking through the market area to educate traders and drivers on the need to return to their designated loading yards.
Despite initial agreement, Mr Amesimeku said some drivers, particularly members of the GPRTU “hiring car” group, defied the directive and continued to load on the streets.
“We are a bit disappointed because some of the very people, who attended our meetings and agreed to comply are those still violating the directive,” he added.
He explained that discussions were ongoing to properly demarcate loading areas within the terminal to avoid confusion among the various transport unions.
“Once demarcation is done, every union will operate within its space. If compliance still fails, the law will take its course. We will have no option but to impound vehicles, seize goods, and apply penalties,” he stressed.
Madam Joana Fafa Ayer, Volta Regional Director of the NRSA, emphasised that the main goal of the exercise was to improve road safety and restore order in the central business district.
“This is a pilot exercise focusing on the market area and its adjoining roads. We want every transport union to return to the terminal and load from there, not on the road. Hawkers and traders occupying pedestrian walkways must also vacate them,” she said.
She noted that some transport unions requested clearer demarcation of their loading points within the terminal, which the Assembly and union executives would work on together.
She added that unions whose vehicles could not all fit into the terminal would be asked to create satellite holding areas outside the market, where vehicles could wait until it was their turn to load.
Mr Gabriel Fiankor, Chairman of the Ho Cooperative Transport Union, popularly known as “Holy Ghost,” told GNA that earlier consultations had suggested moving GPRTU “hiring cars” to the Metro Mass Terminal, while Cooperative and Protoa drivers would operate from the main station.
However, he said the new directive required all groups to operate from the same station, which could lead to confusion without clear demarcation.
“For now, we have agreed with GPRTU hiring car drivers to move to the main station and load one after the other, while we await proper demarcation and further consultation,” he explained.
The Assembly and NRSA are expected to reconvene with union leaders to finalise the demarcation plan before full enforcement resumes.
For More News And Analysis About Ghana Follow Africa-Press
