The Datoyili community in rural Tamale is unhappy with the inability of the City authorities to make good use of the newly constructed bus terminal located in the area.
According to some of the community members, the terminal when put into good use will attract more vehicles and investors to patronize the facility thereby creating an avenue for increased revenue for the assembly in addition to enhancing development of the area.
Former chief executive for the Tamale Metropolitan Assembly, Abdul Hanan Gundaadow initiated the project with funding from the World Bank under the Urban Development Grant. The assembly secured land at Datoyili and constructed the modern bus terminal for buses that ply the Tamale – Kumasi corridor to operate from there.
The facility which cost the assembly GHC 1.9 million was to help decongest the Central Business District, particularly the bus terminal in the metropolis. However the facility has been abandoned ever since its completion for almost two years now.
When the Diamond News team visited the new Datoyili Bus Terminal, it was uncovered that the place had been taken over by weeds and left to rot.
Some of the Datoyili community members who shared their unhappiness with the News team said that, moving the long buses to the new bus terminal could go a long way to enhance socio-economic activities in the area.
‘’The way the facility has been left to rot isn’t good. The city authorities should know that tax payers monies are going waste, one residents lamented .”
Another had this to say; “I think when the terminal is operational, it could boost socio-economy activities in the community and also create jobs for the youth in the area.”
Meanwhile some drivers and union executives at the Tamale main bus terminal are also claiming that the facility was not originally designed to accommodate them, therefore moving to the new terminal could pose inconveniences to their operations.
Director of Imperial Express, Chief Adam Wurishe Naa, who spoke on behalf of other driver executives, told Diamond News that they were not against the relocation to the Datoyili bus terminal, but wanted city authorities to put the facility into good shape including providing enough security and other structures to handle passengers and luggage.
