Lawyer Emmanuel Kojo Mensah, a member of the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) Communications Team, has declared that President John Dramani Mahama is committed to restoring order and functionality to the capital city – Accra.
Speaking on Atinka TV’s Ghana Nie show hosted by Ama Gyenfa Ofosu Darkwa (popularly known as Embosour Hemaa), Lawyer Kojo Mensah said: “The congestion in Accra is very disturbing. We should have overcome this challenge long ago,” Lawyer Mensah stated, highlighting the daily frustrations faced by residents navigating crowded streets and walkways, especially in commercial hubs like Okaishie, Nkrumah Circle and Kaneshie Markets.
He criticized what he described as the previous NPP Governments “nine-day wonder” attempts to resolve the city’s challenges and stressed that a more ‘sustainable and humane’ approach is on the horizon with Mahama’s return.
“What makes a city beautiful is order. We pay money to go and enjoy these scenes elsewhere, so why can’t we do it in Ghana?” he questioned.
Lawyer Mensah threw his support behind the ongoing efforts to clear street hawkers and restore order to public spaces, but called for compassion, emphathy and planning in the process.
“The worry for the traders is the alternative for them. The 24-hour economy policy will help them trade at different times. Clearing them is very necessary to ensure the safety and comfort of members of the public, but I am happy this time round we have added a human face to the process” he added.
However, his comments drew sharp responses from the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) representative, Awal Mohammed. He warned against politicizing the issue and insisted that previous efforts to decongest Accra, especially under former Greater Accra Regional Minister Henry Quartey, were undermined by a lack of follow-through at the municipal level.
“This must not be politicized. The political will is the challenge. Henry Quartey did his best and it was left to the MCEs to protect the move, but they didn’t,” Awal noted.
He accused the NDC of inconsistency and double standards, citing the return of traders to Agbogbloshie—a space previously cleared under the NPP government.
“The NDC should go and sack the Agbogbloshie traders who came back to the space first before cracking down on the pavement traders,” – he stated.
While both parties expressed support for the Accra mayor’s current clean-up efforts, they diverged sharply on the path to sustainability. “We support what the mayor is doing, but let’s sustain it. Ghanaians are very law-abiding people,” Awal concluded.
As the battle over Accra’s decongestion continues, residents and traders await tangible results beyond the rhetoric—and hope that this time, efforts to restore order in the city will last.
Ghana|Atinkaonline.com|Ebenezer Madugu
 Communications Team, has declared that President John Dramani Mahama){kind=link}