Accra Traders Reject 48-Hour Bus-Stop Eviction Order and Warn of Protest
The Union of Informal Workers Associations is demanding dialogue and alternative trading spaces after Accra authorities ordered traders to leave unauthorised bus stops.
ACCRA, GHANA — The Union of Informal Workers Associations (UNIWA) has rejected a 48-hour ultimatum from the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) requiring traders to vacate unauthorised bus stops, warning that members could demonstrate if the directive is enforced without further consultation.
The union's position, announced on Thursday, November 5, 2026, marks a new development in the dispute over the occupation of public transport facilities and the introduction of Ghana's TraffiTech-GH automated traffic enforcement system.
Traders ask for dialogue
UNIWA said it was disappointed that the Assembly had issued an ultimatum soon after meetings involving workers' representatives and the Trades Union Congress. The association argues that an immediate eviction without alternatives could threaten the livelihoods of families dependent on informal trading.
The union acknowledged the importance of safe pedestrian access and orderly transport operations, but called for more time, consultation and suitable replacement trading areas. It also warned commercial drivers against attempting to enforce removal orders themselves, saying enforcement belongs to the appropriate public authorities.
Why the Assembly issued the order
The AMA announced its 48-hour directive on November 4 after commercial transport operators complained that trading at designated stops obstructed passenger pick-ups and drop-offs. The Assembly says the occupation of those spaces contributes to congestion and forces commuters into potentially unsafe boarding locations.
City authorities have pointed to action around the Kwame Nkrumah Interchange, Achimota and parts of the central business district and said further enforcement may follow.
Next steps
UNIWA has asked the Mayor of Accra, Michael Kpakpo Allotey, to suspend the deadline and return to talks with traders and other stakeholders. Its threat to demonstrate is conditional; it does not mean that a protest or a new eviction exercise had already taken place on November 5.
The dispute places road safety, transport efficiency and informal workers' livelihoods in tension. A negotiated arrangement will need to address all three.
Primary institutional reference: Accra Metropolitan Assembly, directive dated November 4, 2026. https://www.ama.gov.gh/news-details.php?n=bzIwMzI0MnI4MDI0bjM0MG45OTFvN3MxMzRvNjJuNTkxbjZxODMxbw%3D%3D
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