ABIDJN, May 15 (Bernama) -- The Cote d'Ivoire's Public Health Ministry has imposed a ban on hawking in the main streets of Abidjan for the first time in decades to ensure a new image for the city, China's Xinhua news agency reported.

Health Minister Anne Ouloto said the massive presence of hawkers on the main streets of the West African country's economic capital had created a "serious nuisance".

"Road users are confronted by problems of safety and cases of attacks are sometimes reported," the minister added.

She bemoaned the hawkers' refusal to carry out their businesses from the markets and appropriate places that have been designated for them.

"Those who contravene this measure will have their merchandise confiscated," she warned.

The phenomenon of hawking has been going on for several decades in Cote d'Ivoire's economic capital, where youths and adults have sold their products from the streets.

The authorities had vowed to clean up the streets to present a renewed image of the town.

-- BERNAMA