The Mayor of the Tamale Metropolitan Assembly (TaMA), Mr Sule Salifu has charged residents within the Greater Tamale to bear some level of responsibility and support for the Assembly to relocate hawkers and other traders within the Central Business District most especially those operating under the Gbewaa Interchange to promote cleanliness and easy pedestrian movement.
According to him, the Assembly has taking steps to inject hawkers and other traders operating under the Interchange, and other major principal streets of Tamale. He indicated that development of the city is the share responsibility hence, it is prudent for residents to play their part to enable the assembly carry out its mandatory duty to ensure a total sanity within the Metropolis.
“It is not our intention to spoil or deny any one from trading, but it is our intention to collaborate with you to develop the city, that it is our aim. The Assembly has the power to direct the MTTD to arrest vehicles operating under the interchange, but we don’t want to do that. Because we believe that this engagement is the best way to go” he said.
But he said, the Assembly would apply force to eject the traders if they failed to comply with the directive to relocate.
Mr Sule Salifu made the call at a stakeholder meeting ahead of the intended decongestion exercise along the Central District Business Center within the Tamale Metropolis.
The Mayor of Tamale said for Tamale to become the cleanest city, there was the need for residents to approach the agenda of the Assembly with a collective and positive mindset, adding that, “we want you to be actively involved that is why we engaged you.”
The meeting brought together key stakeholders including Motor Traffic and Transport Directorate (MTTD), Ghana Armed Forces (GAF), Ghana Private Road Transport Unio (GPRTU), Road Safety Commission, Staff of the Assembly among others.
It was also attended by representatives from the various traders’ groups, and representatives of drivers unions most especially the “yellow yellow” riders.
The meeting was aimed at explaining to the traders and other hawkers operating under the Gbewaa Interchange the need to relocate for safety.
On his part, the Northern Regional Command of the Motor Transport and Traffic Department of the Ghana Police Service, Chief Superintendent Mahamud Yussif, while taking the various stakeholders through the road traffic regulations also indicated that, trading on the street is against the road traffic regulations.
“We will enforce the laws after the engagement and the awareness creation on the usage of the Gbewaa Interchange”, he said.
Traders in the Northern Regional capital Tamale, have taken their wares to the streets and occupy sections of the newly opened Gbewaa Interchange.
From many parts of Tamale, the phenomenon has become common on almost every principal street within the Metropolis degrading the beauty of the city.
Story By: Alhassan Yakubu |www.diamondfmonline.com |Ghana
