Decongestion of Tamale Central Business District begins
The Tamale Metropolitan Assembly (TaMA) yesterday embarked on an exercise to decongest the Central Business District (CDB) of the metropolis.
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A task force of the TaMA supported by the military, the police and members of other security agencies undertook the exercise to get rid of traders, hawkers and food vendors who had taken over pavements and roads in the metropolis.
Structures on the shoulders of roads and pavements that obstructed pedestrian movement and free flow of vehicular traffic were demolished.
The exercise, which started as early as 5.00 a.m., was also intended to ensure sanity and discipline on the roads in the metropolis.
The last time such an exercise was conducted was in 2009.
Misunderstanding
The task force and security operatives encountered some resistance from some of the traders and food vendors.
There was some misunderstanding between some groups of young men and the task force over the exercise, while some irate youth also threatened to vote against the government in the next election because they had been denied their source of livelihood.
According to them, because of the lack of formal jobs, they engaged in petty trading but had now been deprived of their livelihood.
Concerns
Some of the traders told the Daily Graphic they were informed about the exercise a week ago and that they had no alternative but to comply.
Others, however, were of the view that the assembly went beyond its earlier announcement that only those on the pedestrian walkways and those selling in the streets would be cleared but also cleared those operating inside the taxi rank.
A food vendor, Salima Safianu, was disappointed that the TaMA did not explicitly inform them that people engaged in businesses at the bus stations would be affected.
CEO
The TaMA Chief Executive, Mr Musah Iddrisu Superior, said the exercise would be sustained to ensure sanity and discipline on the roads in the metropolis.
He said four security posts were going to be set up at vantage points to prevent the traders from going back to sell on the streets.
He debunked the assertions of some of the traders that they were not informed or given any notice, adding, “We engaged with all stakeholders for about two months before the exercise.”
