Mallam market, situated in the Ablekuma North Municipality of the Greater Accra Region, sprang up as a satellite market along the Dr Busia highway towards Mallam junction to serve residents in that enclave and beyond.
Although it was not fully equipped with the amenities of a modern market, the traders at the time remained disciplined.
They stayed off pavements and the roads, and carried out their businesses in their stores, stalls and under their sheds.
Similarly, customers and patrons of the market reciprocated by adhering to road traffic regulations including parking at the right places to patronise their preferred goods at the market.
That ensured that the streets and pavements were free and traffic flowed smoothly from the Kasoa direction to Kaneshie.
Self-inflicted gridlock
Those travelling from Kaneshie towards Kasoa and those descending the Mallam interchange from the Kwashieman stretch towards Sakaman also moved without any impediments.
The situation in recent times has, however, been very frustrating because traders at the Mallam market have abandoned their shops, stalls and sheds and have virtually taken over the pavements, median and the streets, culminating in a self-inflicted gridlock, especially during rush hours in the morning and evening.
It is even more chaotic on Saturday morning, especially along the main Kasoa to Kaneshie section of the road.
The worst case is the road linking the Mallam interchange from the N1, descending towards the Sakaman junction.
The traders and their potential buyers alike take over that stretch without recourse to the fact that it is a major road.
They carry out brisk business and do not care about the dangers and inconveniences their actions and activities pose to pedestrians and drivers.
Some patrons of the market and cargo trucks have also made it a habit to climb and park on the available spaces on the pavement and the median.
This scenario makes the road very chaotic and very unpleasant for drivers and commuters alike.
Urgent attention
Any regular user of that road can attest to the stress road users, particularly drivers to and from Kasoa, Mallam and also Awoshie or Kwashieman, have to go through, just to get to Sakaman and beyond or from the Sakaman junction section towards Mallam junction.
For those descending from the Kwashieman and Awoshie junction to Sakaman junction, the situation requires urgent attention to instil discipline on the roads for smooth vehicular movement.
It is unfortunate that due to indiscipline and the lack of enforcement of bylaws by the respective local government assemblies, the more roads are constructed across the country and improved to ensure regular traffic flow, comfort and pedestrian safety, the contrary is what prevails in most cases and the main culprits have been traders at markets along major roads and drivers of commercial (Trotro) vehicles who park, take over bus stops and end up using those spots as loading bays.
Chris Nunoo
P. O. Box 742
Accra
