SHOPS SPRING UP EVERYWHERE

THE Tamale metropolis has gradually become a city of shops. Stores and stalls are dotted at every nook and cranny of the metropolis. Metal containers and kiosks are springing up in almost every available space.
Pavements and bicycle lanes in the central business district of the metropolis have been taken over by traders, thereby obstructing the free flow of human traffic and riders.
At the backyard of the Ghana Telecom offices near the central market, vegetable sellers and beggars have “seized” the railings and pavements, forcing pedestrians to compete with motorists on the very busy and narrow road.
The traders have also succeeded in taking over the car park outside the Kaladan Park and its immediate vicinity, as well as the Aboabo Lorry Station.
The practices of some of the traders leave much to be desired, contributing greatly to the unsanitary conditions in the metropolis, as they litter the area indiscriminately.
Tenants in houses close to the streets are often told by their landlords that they want to turn those rooms into offices or stores that could attract higher rent.
According to the Tamale Metropolitan Co-ordinating Director, Alhaji Mohammed Adam Baba, most shop owners neither consulted the assembly, nor did they receive any permit, before constructing, erecting or placing their structures anywhere.
He described the practice as most unfortunate, illegal and unacceptable.
Alhaji Baba said the assembly was taking measures to help stem the tide to make the city clean to reflect its status.
A resident, Mr Iddrisu Tikuma, said the assembly should rather enforce its order on the traders to relocate “because the assembly’s numerous notices to the traders to relocate have fallen on deaf ears.
“As a result, these illegal structures are springing up daily, without recourse to any laid-down rule or plan, as some of them are erected or positioned on major service lines,” he stated, adding, “There should be discipline in the way we do things.”
He also said if those structures were not removed now, they could obstruct a future expansion of the roads and other user facilities.
A student, Ms Fauzia Abdulai, also expressed concern over the menace of stray animals on the roads and called on the assembly to set up a task force to get rid of such animals to make the roads safer for both motorists and pedestrians.
She suggested that owners of such animals be fined before their animals were released to them or in default the assembly should confiscate the animals and later dispose of them.