Accra, May 20, 2025 — The Greater Accra Regional Minister, Linda Ocloo, has pledged a renewed operation to evacuate scrap dealers who have returned to the previously cleared Agbogbloshie onion market site, citing illegal occupation and environmental concerns.
This announcement comes nearly four years after a major demolition in July 2021, led by the Greater Accra Regional Coordinating Council (GARCC), which saw the removal of over 10,000 squatters, including scrap dealers and onion traders, in a bid to reclaim and sanitize the area.
Despite the initial clearance, Ocloo noted that the site is once again under threat from unauthorized activities, with scrap dealers returning and allegedly converting the reclaimed land into dumping grounds.
“Illegal Return Post-Elections”
Speaking to journalists on Tuesday, May 20, Ocloo disclosed that intelligence gathered by the authorities indicated a resurgence of illicit operations after the recent elections.
“After the election, they came back here. There was a committee that was set up for us to evacuate them back to where they were asked to go,” she said.
She added that some unauthorized actors are allegedly collecting money from tricycle operators to allow indiscriminate dumping of waste at the site — a development she described as unacceptable.
“We picked intel that they collect money from tricycle operators to allow them to dump their refuse here,” Ocloo stated. “So, we are here to evaluate the situation and also see how best we can re-evacuate them.”
Steps Toward Re-enforcement
Ocloo affirmed that the GARCC would swiftly intervene to restore order to the Agbogbloshie enclave and prevent it from regressing into a chaotic and unsanitary hub.
The renewed plan is expected to involve collaboration with security agencies and city authorities to ensure full compliance with earlier directives.
The situation at Agbogbloshie has long been a symbol of Accra’s urban management challenges, particularly around informal trading, waste disposal, and environmental degradation.
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