Lax bylaw enforcement to blame for traders' street chaos - Dr Oduro Osae

Local governance expert Dr. Eric Oduro Osae blames local authorities for chaotic urban trading scenes.

He is the Director-General of the Internal Audit Agency (IAA). He says the disorder on city streets results from local governments' failure to enforce bylaws.

“The first reason is failure on the part of local government,” Dr. Oduro Osae stated on JoyNews’ PM Express.

He explained that authorities have the power to act but have chosen inaction. This situation worsens due to political interference.

“The second one is political interference and politicisation of the process,” he said.

Even when city authorities try to act, higher political powers often stop them. They fear losing electoral support if they enforce regulations.

“When a chief executive wants to keep traders off the streets, it’s difficult during election years,” he revealed.

“If it’s not an election year, a chief executive may start enforcement, but then receives an order from above.”

This order often comes from political leaders who worry about their support base.

Dr. Oduro Osae sees this pattern as a major setback for sustainable city planning.

“These three factors affect strategies for orderly cities in Ghana,” he noted, expressing frustration at missed opportunities.

He also highlighted a lack of planning as a significant issue.

“The third factor is the absence of short and long-term strategies,” he said.

For him, enforcement without strategic vision will fail to provide lasting solutions.

According to Dr. Oduro Osae, Ghana's cities are stuck in a cycle of ignored laws and poor planning with no clear roadmap for improvement.