Ten Yam vendors at the Agbogbloshie market were ordered by an Accra Magistrate Court to sign a bond to be of good behaviour and not to display their items for sale in any aisle or road.
The yam vendors, who pleaded guilty to the charge of obstructing a public pathway in violation of section 10 of the 2017 AMA Public Markets bye-laws, would be required to serve at least three months in jail with hard labour if they violate the bond.
Additionally, the yam vendors were surcharged by the La Magistrate Court to pay GHC1000 to the AMA for the costs associated with moving the yams from the market.
The prosecution, which was led by the Public Health Department of the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA), narrated that the yam sellers were part of 20 traders arrested at the Agbogbloshie market a few days ago by the AMA and the police during an enforcement exercise for displaying their wares for sale on the road and bare floor.
It will be recalled that the AMA announced dealing firmly with vendors who sell their wares at unauthorised locations and on the bare floor at Agbogbloshie market, the largest market in Accra, before the court’s order.
The AMA’s Mayor, Elizabeth Naa Kwatsoe Tawiah Sackey, announced this during a surprise visit to the market. She noted that as part of the special operation, vendors found selling alongside the road and behind walls would be prosecuted. She also noted that any vehicles parked on the road’s shoulders would be towed.
“We are going to enforce the bye-laws to the latter. Traders selling behind the Agbogbloshie market dwarf wall will not be spared, anyone caught will be arrested, fined or sent to court. The traders have already been educated not to display their foodstuff on the bare ground for sale but the bad practice persists. We will enforce the law and ensure that they leave the mandated three feet gap between the ground and their foodstuff,” she said.
The people who were involved are; Frank Telekpon, Marboriwe Ntekellama, Awiase Mmolebe, Wisdom Bindiche, Ebenezer Benkom, Yindo Mohammed, Kiki Majaba, Bepa Yayen, Seth Ngmagna and Nakulin Elija.
Dzifa Hukporti, ISD
