The Mayor of Accra, Michael Kpakpo Allotey has paid a working visit to selected security agencies in the metropolis to rally operational support for a major decongestion exercise scheduled to begin on February 1, 2026.
The agencies visited as part of the tour included the Ministries, Accra Central, Railways, Jamestown, Korle Bu, Mamprobi and Kaneshie security commands, as well as the 31st Makola Metro Fire Station and the North Industrial Area (STC) Fire Station.
Addressing the media after the engagements, the Mayor commended the agencies for what he described as strong policing throughout the festive season, noting that security visibility across the city contributed to the public calm.
He said the Accra Metropolitan Assembly also operated on a 24-hour basis during the period and expressed appreciation on behalf of the President, H.E. John Dramani Mahama, for the work delivered by officers and commanders.
The Mayor assured the agencies of his commitment to address the concerns raised, indicating that he would work with relevant units of the Assembly and stakeholders to resolve issues that hinder effective policing and emergency response.
Touching on the planned decongestion, Hon. Allotey said the operation would mark a shift from persuasion to strict enforcement, stressing that the Assembly would apply the law fully during the exercise.
The Mayor said the forthcoming operation formed part of the Accra Metropolitan Assembly’s broader effort to restore order in the Central Business District and other congestion-prone corridors, improve pedestrian safety, enhance traffic flow and support sanitation enforcement across the city.
He explained that the February exercise would require coordinated, intelligence-led, and professional support from the security services to ensure that enforcement was firm but orderly and carried out with restraint and respect for the public.
He said the decongestion would target the growing congestion in markets and along major roads, where trading and hawking have spilled onto streets and undersigned pedestrian walkways, creating safety risks.
He said the Assembly would enforce the city’s “red line” policy and warned that persons who violate the directive would face prosecution at the Accra Metropolitan Assembly Sanitation Court.
Hon. Allotey also stressed the need for engagement and coordination ahead of the exercise, noting that collaboration with the security services was necessary to ensure the operation is carried out effectively and professionally.
The Mayor added that the Assembly would continue stakeholder engagements and operational planning with relevant departments and partner institutions to ensure the exercise achieved its objectives and was sustained beyond the initial enforcement phase.
Mayor Allotey appealed to the security agencies to join the Assembly for what he described as the “biggest decongestion exercise” in the metropolis, emphasising that enforcement would be firm and offenders who intentionally breach the law would be sanctioned.
Heads of the security agencies visited pledged their support for the exercise and assured the Mayor of their readiness to collaborate with the Assembly to ensure orderly enforcement and public safety during the operation.
By Phoenix online
