Hawkers around the Makola Market in Accra on Tuesday expressed their discontent about the ongoing decongestion exercise led by the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) task force.

A visit to some parts of the Central Business Centre by Ghana News Agency revealed that whilst pedestrians hailed the exercise, hawkers who were directly affected, were counting the financial cost to their businesses.

Ms Adwoa Owusu, foodstuff seller around Makola Market described the decongestion exercise as a nightmare.

“Our start-up monies came as a result of bank loans and other personal loans, now it’s gone. They took my things on three different occasions and I had to pay a fine each time to get my stuff back,” she exclaimed.

At the Rawlings Park area, GNA observed that the usual choked payment was clear allowing traffic flow.

Hajia Hamamat Fuseini, a seller, who interacted with the GNA, said the situation was worrying since they did not get to retrieve all of their wares after it’s been confiscated due to misplacement.

Most of the traders appealed to AMA to give them some time to relocate to other markets within the Metropolis. “Our father, the mayor should give us some three months grace period,” a trader said.

On the other hand, most pedestrians commended the AMA for the bold exercise.

Mrs. Adjoa Anane expresses satisfaction that the exercise had been fruitful, adding that “it has made the sidewalks free and convenient to use. I hope that it does not become a nine day wonder as previous exercises.”