The Ayawaso West Municipal Assembly has intensified enforcement against unauthorised trading activities at the Tetteh Quashie Roundabout near Villaggio, after traders returned to the area and established makeshift commercial spaces.
The Assembly’s intervention is aimed at restoring order around the busy interchange and preventing trading activities from creating additional challenges for motorists, pedestrians and residents within the municipality. Editorial Standards
The emerging market has raised concerns because of its location around a major transport corridor where the movement of vehicles and pedestrians is already significant.
Authorities say the presence of traders and makeshift structures in such areas can affect traffic flow, sanitation and public safety.
The Municipal Chief Executive for Ayawaso West, Michael Mensah, said the Assembly had taken immediate action to clear the unauthorised market and appealed to traders and residents to cooperate with the authorities.
According to the Assembly, the exercise forms part of its broader responsibility to protect public spaces and ensure that commercial activities are conducted at locations approved for such purposes.
The development comes months after the demolition of the Tetteh Quarshie Art Market and adjoining businesses in the area.
The earlier demolition generated considerable concern among affected artisans and traders, many of whom subsequently complained about declining sales, accumulated debts and difficulties securing a suitable permanent location for their businesses.
Following the demolition, the Ayawaso West Municipal Assembly relocated affected traders to a temporary site close to the original market.
However, some of the artisans have complained that the temporary location has attracted fewer customers, making it difficult for them to recover financially.
Citi News reported in July that some affected traders were struggling with mounting debts after losing their previous trading space.
One trader said he had lost more than GH¢30,000, while another master carver reported owing more than GH¢50,000 after purchasing stock on credit.
The situation highlights the difficult balance local authorities face between enforcing planning regulations and protecting the livelihoods of people who depend on trading for their income.
For the Assembly, however, the re-emergence of trading activities at the Tetteh Quashie Roundabout presents wider concerns beyond the economic interests of individual traders.
Unauthorised markets established along major roads can obstruct pedestrian movement, interfere with traffic management and create sanitation problems if adequate waste disposal facilities are unavailable.
The area around the Tetteh Quashie Interchange and Villaggio is an important commercial and transportation zone, making proper spatial planning particularly important.
Authorities have therefore maintained that public spaces must be used in accordance with approved plans and regulations.
The latest enforcement action also comes amid broader concerns about unauthorised structures within Ayawaso West. Editorial Ethics & Independence
Parliament’s Local Government and Rural Development Committee recently expressed concern about the proliferation of containers and temporary structures in East Legon, with lawmakers questioning why such structures continue to appear despite the Assembly’s position that they were not authorised.
The Committee subsequently tasked the Assembly with developing a comprehensive strategy to address the problem.
The Assembly has previously taken enforcement action against unauthorised developments in the municipality.
In October 2025, it halted a suspected shopping-centre project near the UPSA Police Station after determining that the developers did not have the required permit. Construction materials, including bags of cement and a concrete mixer, were seized during the operation.
The latest action at Tetteh Quashie therefore forms part of a continuing effort to strengthen compliance with planning and development regulations across the municipality.
While enforcement is necessary to prevent uncontrolled development and protect public spaces, the circumstances of the affected traders also underline the need for sustainable alternatives.
For traders displaced from established markets, simply removing them from unauthorised locations may not resolve the economic difficulties that pushed them to seek new spaces.
A more lasting approach could involve identifying suitable designated trading areas, improving temporary relocation arrangements and maintaining communication with trader associations before enforcement exercises.
Such measures could help authorities preserve order while giving affected businesses a realistic opportunity to continue operating legally.
The Assembly has urged traders and residents to cooperate with its efforts to keep Ayawaso West clean, safe and orderly. Editorial Standards
The renewed appearance of the unauthorised market serves as another reminder of the challenges confronting rapidly developing parts of Accra.
As commercial activity expands, local authorities face increasing pressure to enforce planning regulations while ensuring that traders have access to properly designated spaces where they can operate without compromising public safety, traffic management or sanitation.
For the Ayawaso West Municipal Assembly, the immediate priority remains clearing unauthorised trading activities from the Tetteh Quashie Roundabout.
The longer-term challenge will be ensuring that enforcement is matched by effective planning and viable alternatives for traders whose livelihoods depend on access to busy commercial areas.