By Michael Foli Jackidy

Dzodze (V/R), March 23, GNA – In an effort to reduce congestion, the Ketu North Municipal Assembly, working alongside the Motor Traffic and Transport Department (MTTD) and local transport unions, has initiated a significant clearance operation aimed at removing vendors from principal roadways in Dzodze during market days.

The program, launched on March 21st, Friday, seeks to establish Dzodze as one of the ten municipalities selected for the Smart SDG Cities project.

This aligns with the government’s Resetting Ghana Agenda, aiming to enhance urban management and infrastructure.

In an interview with the Ghana News Agency (GNA), Mr. Jasper Adenyo, the Coordinating Director of the Assembly, stated that this step was crucial for updating Dzodze and organizing the town’s structure more effectively.

Despite being constructed for many years, our town can still be updated. In a smart city, it’s not acceptable for streets designed for both vehicles and pedestrians to become occupied by marketplace vendors on busy trading days. This practice of setting up merchandise along the primary routes makes effective traffic control extremely challenging.

He emphasized that Dzodze marks the beginning of the Trans-ECOWAS Highway, which is essential for large lorries coming from Niger, Mali, Nigeria, Côte d’Ivoire, and Senegal.

The existence of merchants on the routes presents a significant danger, since a braking system malfunction in one of these lorries might result in catastrophe.

We can’t just let this hazardous circumstance continue unchecked. It’s our duty to take action immediately, lest we risk losing lives.

Mr. Adenyo stated that the decongestion initiative is in line with the government’s plan for transforming cities.

Even without the Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs), the Assembly remains committed to moving forward with the plan.

We don’t need to wait for our MMDCE appointments to start making essential improvements. People would be impressed today to witness how the principal road in Dzodze on market days is now so clean that vehicles can easily pass through. Earlier, because of traffic jams, motorists struggled to travel at speeds over 20 km/h.

He mentioned that vacant spots are readily available in the marketplace, and thus, vendors have no justification for using the streets as their trading grounds.

We have requested all vendors to move their operations within the market premises. While some are cooperating, others are being unyielding. In response, we’ve utilized our DRIP units to dismantle their stands. Additionally, these devices deter unauthorized vehicle parking.

He stated that this initiative won’t just be a short-term activity; rather, it will require an ongoing commitment until the dream of transforming into a meticulously planned, modern metropolis becomes reality.

Mr. Adenyo mentioned that meetings have been arranged with motorcycle drivers to guarantee complete adherence to the updated traffic regulations.

motorcyclists must likewise follow these new regulations. we will reach out to them to make sure everybody contributes towards making dzoze a safer place.

Mr. Edward Seke, who leads the Assembly, supported the proposal as well, highlighting that street vendors endanger themselves by operating on roadsides.

We do not hope for calamity, yet consider what might occur if a moving vehicle’s brakes were to fail. Numerous individuals could perish as a result.

He pointed out an additional hurdle: some local merchants hold onto market spots that they no longer utilize, thereby blocking new entrepreneurs from establishing their ventures.

Some traders have inherited their marketplace spots from their great-grandmothers, but they no longer conduct business. In contrast, vendors from Denu, Sogakope, and Aflao visit these markets solely on market days and often find themselves competing for space. This change will provide much-needed respite for all.

Mr. Seke similarly urged the local market vendors to permit visiting sellers to operate, since various enterprises help boost economic development.

Each community that progresses does so with the support of outsiders. By limiting commercial activities to just local residents, our town won’t expand. I urge our ladies to permit other merchants to vend.

He recognized that change can initially be challenging, but encouraged the traders to conform, promising them that the result would be advantageous for everyone.

The start of any change can be challenging, yet ultimately, we will all have reason to rejoice. Let’s join hands and ensure this endeavor thrives.

Several traders voiced their approval of the program, stating that it has enhanced both security and vehicular movement.

“The roads were extremely crowded, making it risky to traverse them. Occasionally, we would have to wait up to 10 minutes merely to locate a secure place to cross or face the danger of colliding with a motorcycle,” stated a merchant to GNA.

A fellow trader commented, “I genuinely appreciate this initiative. It would be ideal if it could remain unchanged indefinitely.”

This activity is anticipated to carry on over the next few weeks, with rigorous monitoring to guarantee that traders and transportation providers adhere to the newly implemented rules.

GNA

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