TMA decongests Tema community one central market street

Tema, April 2, GNA - The Tema Metropolitan Assembly (TMA) in the early hours of Thursday embarked on a decongestion exercise to clear the Community one market street of foodstuff sellers. The one and a half exercise, which started at 0430 hours, was carried out by a combined team from the Tema Police Buffalo Unit, TMA City Guides and officials from the Assembly's Environmental Health Department.

Large quantities of foodstuff and fruits seized from the traders during the exercise would be distributed to orphanages and the School for the Deaf.

Mr Frank Asante, Public Relations Officer of TMA, said the exercise was the first in a series planned by the Assembly to decongest markets in the metropolis, noting that subsequent exercises would involve the removal of kiosks and other structures from unauthorised locations. Mr Asante said the traders refused to vacate the streets after several warnings, which included a deadline, which was even extended to March 31, this year.

He stated that the activities of the traders on the street at the discharging point, popularly known as "Kwaseadwaso" has become a nuisance to road users and traders in the market, adding that the exercise aimed at improving traffic flow and sanitation in the area. He added that the traders who were relocated to the Tema Community Nine Market, near the old cemetery, two years ago returned to the streets and every effort to get them to return had proved futile. Mr Asante further said apart from taking over the street, the traders have extended their activities to the bulk breaking point in the market, which had been reserved for trucks to offload their goods. The PRO said the seized foodstuffs would be distributed to orphanages in the Metropolis and the State School for the Deaf which is located at Adjei Kojo near Ashaiman.

Mr Asante indicated that officials of the Assembly would patrol the premises for the next three weeks to deter the traders from returning to the streets.

Meanwhile, some traders at the scene have pleaded with the TMA to return their goods to enable them to pay back loans they contracted from the banks. They explained that they returned to the street due to the low patronage of their goods at the Community Nine Market. The traders further complained that the Community Nine Market was not fully developed as there were no sheds leading to hiring of umbrellas which they said was costly.