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22.12.2014 Feature Article

Street Hawking A Lost Fight?

Street Hawking A Lost Fight?
22.12.2014 LISTEN

Over the years there have been numerous calls on the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA), Local government authorities and the police to rid the street of hawkers.. Much of these calls come with a deep sense of disgust and loathing with some calling the act risky, annoying and unsightly.. As we approach Christmas, we are likely to see these persons most of whom are youngsters or even kids littered on our street busily calling out their items and goods much to the endearment of passing vehicles with some turning the road into a race course out-pace each other in desperate attempt to win the taste of motorist.

Well, as much as these activities are real on our roads, it is also real that lives are lost and loved ones perish in an effort to either earn a living or be a breadwinner..Despite the dangers therein, children under age twelve are seen at major road intersections waving various items including, plantain chips, toilet roll, call credits cards etc.. I asked a costermonger who had a baby strapped behind her and plies her trade on the Barnes road in Adabraka (thus after the Holy spirit Cathedral) whether she was aware of the danger she was putting the baby's life in? In her response, she admitted the danger, but revealed that it was her only source of living.. Another, a yoghurt seller who has been in business for more than a year told me it dangerous and would not allow any of his children to join the trade hence his toil on the road.

According to him, even though times are hard, he could make forty cedis a day.. Asked if he faces some tough times with the police, fairly aged Sammy told me they do business in the full glare of the police.Activities of these hawkers may be viewed as obstinately uncooperative or one that arouses pity..However way we view it, the bye-laws of Ghana frowns on the practice. In an interview with the police, the public relations director of the Accra Metropolitan Assembly, Mr. NumoBlafo, admitted the difficulty the assembly has with regards to dealing with the hawkers.. According to him, despite the market centers constructed, traders still do business on road pavements and on streets..

He lamented on the bad practices of some sections of the public who join traders to harass and verbally abuse the AMA task force in the line of their duties..For the AMA, they remain committed in the quest to rid the capital city of hawkers and a such have embarked on series of education to sensitize both the hawker and buyer of their ill practice.. For Mr. Blafo, it is time to implement the laws that allows for the prosecution of not only the hawker, but the buyer. He reiterated the need for buyers to stop buying from the hawkers and gave a hypothesis to the effect that, “if we (buyers) refuse to purchase their items and allow them to be in the scorching sun for hours, certainly they wouldn't come there again.”

This however runs contrary to the opinion of the deputy superintendent of police in charge of Motor Traffic and Transport Unit.. Even though Mr. Alex Obeng agreed that the issue of street hawking has been a challenge and poses a threat to both motorist and pedestrians.. Emphasis should be on the “targets” (i.e., Hawkers) and all efforts to rid the capital city of this unsightly practice should focus on the peddlers..

According to the director of research and training at the MTTU, DSP Obeng the unit is aware of the inconveniences motorist face as a result of the activities of these hawkers and would clamp down on their activities this Christmas. In a thirty minute interview, DSP Alex Obeng enumerated a number of strategies his unit has adopted including “operation father Christmas” which is aimed at deploying adequate number police personnel at all road intersection.

Police visibility, he admits goes a long way to scare not only street hawkers but other evil-doers or traffic offenders. He revealed that as at January to November 2014, the MTTU has recorded 2,376 pedestrian knockdowns.. Most of these instances are due to negligence of some road users, failure of some traffic lights and speeding. He however assured the public of the police protection during the yuletide.

ADJEI, FRANK
P.O.BOX, 12793,
ACCRA-NORTH
E-MAIL: [email protected]
Tel: 0242136318

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