Ablekuma Central Announces Three-Day Decongestion Exercise at Old Agbogbloshie Onion Market
The Ablekuma Central Municipal Assembly has scheduled a three-day decongestion exercise at the Old Agbogbloshie Onion Market from February 24 to 26, 2026, to clear the area of squatters, unauthorized structures, and illegal occupants.
The announcement was made by Municipal Chief Executive Frank Nkansah during a visit to the site alongside the Greater Accra Regional Minister.
“We are going to do the exercise from the 24th to the 27th of next month,” Mr. Nkansah told journalists. “We are going to decongest and break down most of the facilities that the regional minister has directed us to.”
He explained that the operation will be carried out in collaboration with the Regional Coordinating Council (RCC) and other local government bodies to ensure the area becomes safer and more organised for commuters and market women.
“We are only trying to structure the place very well,” he added. “Those who are doing anything illegal will be removed from the place. But those who are doing something legal, we are going to put a police post and other mechanisms to ensure that the assembly is in full control over the activities there.”
The site was previously cleared on July 1, 2021, when the Greater Accra Regional Coordinating Council, supported by armed police, demolished structures and evicted an estimated 10,000 scrap dealers as part of a major clean-up exercise. However, scrap dealers have since returned and reclaimed portions of the land.
The exercise aims to address ongoing congestion, restore order, and prevent illegal activities in the area, which has long been a hotspot for informal trading and scrap dealing.
Residents and traders have been urged to cooperate with authorities to facilitate a smooth operation and avoid further disruptions. The assembly has promised to provide alternatives for legitimate operators while enforcing strict measures against unauthorised activities.
