Story: Zakaria Alhassan, Tamale
THERE is no doubt that the number of vehicles in the Tamale metropolis is growing by the day. However, what is of utmost concern to many motorists is the lack of parking space to contain the large number of vehicles whose owners come to do business, especially in the central business district (CBD).
As a result, motorists, particularly taxi drivers have turned portions of the busy roads into parking lots, thereby inhibiting free flow of vehicles with impunity, resulting in minor accidents.
There are only a few parking spaces at the CBD where a lot of people come to shop and trade. Therefore, it becomes very difficult to get a convenient space to park, especially at weekends thus, compelling motorists to flout the law by parking at unauthorised places.
Particular mention can be made of the road behind the Ghana Telecom the Water Works Road, the Aboabo Road, the Melcom stretch and the Kalpohini Road in the old hospital area.
On all these roads, pedestrians endanger their lives by competing with motorists on such single carriage roads for the right of way.
It is for these reasons that most motorists have described the practice by a private company, Umarib Ghana Limited, that was contracted by the assembly to clamp wheels of vehicles that are unlawfully parked as unacceptable, ‘‘because there are simply inadequate spaces for us to park’’, Mr Kassim Samande, a private car owner, said.
‘‘We do not understand why the people would clamp the tyres of our vehicles for stopping for a brief moment to either deliver a message or offload a few items for some persons,’’ he said.
When contacted, the managing director of the company, Mr Umaru Bawa, stressed that “we are not here to harass people, but are operating in accordance with our mandate to enforce discipline on the roads”.
According to him, the task force consisted of well-trained personnel, and that “if a vehicle parks to deliver a message to someone or to offload some items, the law enjoins the driver to leave the engine running and to switch on the hazard lights to sensitise other road users that there is a vehicle ahead”.
The director further explained that the GH¢50 fine imposed on offending drivers was meant to deter recalcitrant residents and motorists from parking indiscriminately on the roads, thereby creating congestion in the CBD.
The Tamale Metropolitan Co-ordinating Director, Alhaji Mohammed Adam Baba, for his part, said the assembly had demarcated some areas around the market square for use as parking lots, but acknowledged that it was not adequate.
He said the only long-term solution would include the expansion of the Savelugu Station behind the State Transport Company (STC) yard which would involve the demolition of the houses in that area, relocate the houses behind the Agricultural Development Bank (ADB) and those behind the Ghana Telecom.
Alhaji Baba further intimated that designs for the project had been completed and that the assembly was now sourcing funds to embark on the work.
‘‘We are also planning to put up truck holding bays around Datoyili, a suburb along the Tamale-Kumasi road for heavy duty vehicles that ply the roads to park and relax,’’ he added.
The director, however, acknowledged that the project was capital-intensive and would, therefore, require private sector participation as facilities such as guest houses and restaurants would be included in the project.
It is hoped that these laudable plans by the assembly would be put into practice to ensure sanity and avoid accidents and inconveniences on the roads in one of the fastest- growing metropolis in the West African sub-region.
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