A week after issuing an ultimatum to street vendors and hawkers on the principal streets of Tamale to vacate, the Tamale Metropolitan Assembly (TaMA) says the displaced traders will be relocated to some satellite markets in the metropolis.
Meanwhile the assembly has directed traders especially women selling vegetables along the major streets to go inside the Aboabu market.
The traders around the central market are expected to go to the Kukou, Kakpayili and other designated places. Saturday and Sunday market which convenes in the main taxi grounds and has steadily gained grounds has also been asked to move to the outer perimeter of the Tamale jubilee park.
Hawkers selling their wares on the streets in front of Fosmuel Shopping Center, Qaulity first, Modern city and Somo vision shops through the Access Bank area will also be cleared.
The median and streets along the stretch of the Kassajan road (Aboabu-Nyohini road) and all roads and parking spaces within the metropolis will be put in proper perspective for easy transaction of business.
Mr. Issah Musah the assembly’s public relations officer said the move forms part of the assembly’s commitment to ensure sanity in the central business district of the city.
The assembly said its intention to clear all hawkers in the street of Tamale will come to fruition in four weeks’ time and called on residents to give their full support to the exercise. It added that its sanitizing exercise was in the best interest of residents and not for any other reason people may assign to it.
In addition, the exercise is in line with president Nana Akuffo Addo’s vision to provide the needed leadership for the economic transformation of the metropolis, Mr. Musah saidl
Mr. Musah told journalists at the press briefing that every stakeholder will be consulted before the 15th June exercise commences.
He went to allay fears that the exercise will be futile while outlining strategies, sustainability measures and plans to limit the impact the sanitizing of Tamale is likely to bring.
Sustainability measures
The assembly is consulting all stakeholders (Chiefs, Clergy(Imams and Pastors), political parties, youth groups and leadership of traders association within the various markets.
There is also going to be continuous police and task-force presence to ensure that exercise is sustained, Mr Musah added.
Measures of relief of the impact of the exercise
The assembly has put in place both short and long term strategies to mitigate the impact of the exercise. In the short-term, city authorities are relocating vendors/traders to designated market places and areas/spaces they previously occupied before the reconstruction of the markets.
It is also reorganizing satellite markets at Kukuo and Kakpayili for use by the traders and use of the jubilee park as parking space for shoppers at a fee.
Long-term
In the long term, the assembly is hoping that the Datoyili Bus Terminal will be relocated and the taxi rank moved to the central bus terminal and the subsequent available space will be used as a parking lot for shoppers. Meanwhile work the Shea-nut market will continue to accommodate some of the traders.
The presiding member of the Tamale metropolitan assembly, Mr. Abu Takoro assured the public that the assembly members are in full support of the exercise. Mr Takoro said assembly members have been tasked to organized durbars at their respective electoral areas to sensitized electorates about the exercise.
The metropolitan coordinating director of the assembly Mr. Gaspard Dery expressed the hope that residents will appreciate the assembly’s decision to put Tamale in a better position.
