<<Print>>

The Tamale Metropolitan Assembly (TaMA) has directed that trade activities in the Tamale Central Market should be conducted between the hours of 06:00 GMT and 18:00 GMT. Alhaji Abdulai Haruna Friday, Chief Executive of TaMA, who announced this at a meeting with assembly members, security agencies and representatives of traders� groups within the jurisdiction of TaMA, said it formed part of measures to curtail any fire outbreak in the market. This follows reports picked up by Northern Regional Coordinating Council and confirmed by Alhaji A.B.A Fuseini, Deputy Northern Regional Minister, that some arsonists are planning to burn the market. Alhaji Friday said in line with this, TaMA had also set up a task force to decongest the market as well as disconnect all shops that have been illegally connected to electricity to avert any fire outbreak. The Tamale Central Market, a 100-metre square facility located in Tamale main town, is so congested that even shoppers experience difficulty trying to make their way through to transact business. This would make it difficult for easy and uninterrupted evacuation in case of emergency. Alhaji Friday said TaMA would be proactive in enforcing the directive adding that it would also educate traders on what to do to avert fire outbreaks in the market. Alhaji A.B.A Fuseini commended TaMA for the proactive measures put in place to avert the situation. He said the recent spate of fire outbreaks especially at major markets and some government installations across the country was a major source of worry to government. He asked traders not to panic about the situation and assured them that government was on top of the situation. He also appealed to traders to comply with the directive.