TMA taskforce accused of extorting money from traders

Taskforce of the Tamale Metropolis Assembly (TMA) has been extorting money from hawkers, occupying pedestrian’s walk way and pavements in the central business district of Tamale in the Northern region, Today has learnt.

The taskforce, sources close to the TMA alleged, collects one Ghana cedi from the hawkers daily before allowing them to occupy the unauthorised space.

A thirty-six year old hawker, Ussif Sulemana, lamented that the work of the taskforce had been reduced to self-aggrandisement at the expense of the people.

Instead, he said the TMA taskforce should restore sanity and order.

According to him, they are being forced to comply with the directives of the taskforce so as to have peace of mind to sell their goods and services.

“Some of us prefer giving the taskforce their priority (which is GHC1.00) rather than to be sacked,” he said.

Mr. Ussif also disclosed that the illegal action(s) by the taskforce had been channeled to the authorities of the Assembly but to no avail.

However, some of the taskforce members who spoke to Today on condition of anonymity explained the reason for their action, alleging that they are supposed to give the Assembly GHC100.00 every month form their daily collection of tolls.

They indicated that the trend would continue until they are told by the Metropolitan Chief Executive (MCE), Abdul Hannan Gundadoo, to stop.

Earlier, attempts by this reporter to get the TMA boss to react to the allegation proved futile as all the telephone calls placed on his phone went unanswered.