An elderly Ghanaian woman, believed to be in her seventies, has made an emotional plea to city authorities for leniency as Accra’s decongestion exercise intensifies in the Central Business District (CBD).

In a widely circulated YouTube video, the elderly trader, speaking fluent English, appealed to the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) and the city’s mayor, urging them to reconsider the stringent measures being enforced to clear unauthorized traders from road medians and public walkways.

“The economy is hard. Things are too tough for us, and we cannot cope with that,” she lamented. “So what are they telling us to do now? They should be lenient with us.”

The woman, who earns a living selling on the streets, explained that the current economic challenges have forced many like her into unapproved trading zones.

She further noted the financial burden of caring for children in secondary school, pleading with the media to amplify their concerns.

“I want the media to help us so that they can give us a little break,” she said. “We have children in school and other responsibilities.”

The decongestion operation, spearheaded by the AMA in partnership with the Korle Klottey Municipal Assembly, began on Tuesday, May 20, 2025.

The goal is to restore order and improve sanitation across the capital. Key areas affected include Kinbu Road to Railways, ECG Junction to the King Tackie Tawiah Statue, and Opera Square to Adabraka.

While many pedestrians, motorists, and even some traders have welcomed the move for its potential to improve access and cleanliness, the operation has also drawn criticism for its impact on vulnerable street vendors.

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