From Edmond Gyebi, Tamale
The Tamale Metropolitan Assembly is progressively spreading several economic infrastructural developments across the metropolis, with the construction of new modern markets at the top of the agenda, to stimulate economic growth and also rebrand Tamale as the true gateway to the Sahel Region.
The Mayor of Tamale, Abdul-Rahman Hanan Gundadow, said these initiatives, with the aim of opening up the city or equitably spreading development projects across the various communities within the metropolis, have given birth to a number of projects to improve the quality of education, healthcare delivery, agriculture, roads network, and ultimately, the socio-economic activities of the people.
At the recent Assembly’s Ordinary Meeting, the Mayor unveiled plans to set up “a light industrial area” for agro processing firms to move into the metropolis, in order to fully maximise the economic opportunities of the upcoming Tamale International Airport.
The establishment of the light industrial area is meant for the processing of completely or semi-finished products for export or distribution in the domestic market. The Tamale Metropolitan Assembly has already acquired 200 acres of land at Datoyili, a suburb of Tamale, for free to start the project.
In the Mayor’s estimation, the strategic location of Tamale makes it easier for people in the Brong Ahafo, Upper West and Upper East regions to move their goods or agricultural produce to Tamale, process and package them, and then move them finally to the Tamale International Airport for export.
Currently, the Tamale Metro Assembly, led by Mr. Hanan Gundadow, is simultaneously constructing almost seven new markets at vantage areas to improve business or economic activities of the people.
At the Aboabo Market, the Assembly has committed over GH¢8.2 million to complete a supermarket complex project which was started by the Acheampong government in the 1970s, but was abandoned under successive regimes. The two-storey project, when completed, would have not less than 180 market stores, toilets and urinals, banking hall and restaurants among others.
Another two-storey market project is being constructed at the Central Business District (Central Market) at the cost of GH¢1,093,979, which is also expected to have 120 market stores, canteen, banking hall and mosque. The Assembly is again rehabilitating and expanding the Lamashegu Market at the total cost of GH¢363,985.36, which will also have about 20 stores, and another one at Kakpalyili, at the cost of GH¢440,595.90.
One other market project which was abandoned by the erstwhile Kufuor administration is also under construction at Kukuo to serve as temporary structure for sheanuts dealers who are being moved from the are under construction at the Aboabo market. The Kukuo market site was taken over by weeds, and a haven for cattle, robbers and prostitutes.
Speaking in an interview with The Chronicle, the Chairman of the Development Planning Sub-Committee of the Tamale Metro Assembly, Ibrahim Abudu, during an inspection tour of the market projects to assess the level of progress, described the Tamale Mayor as a “creative thinker and one of the progressive chief executives the city has ever had”.
According to him, even though some of the projects had been there for ages, it took the visionary leadership of the Mayor to work closely with the Development Planning Sub-Committee and vigorously implement the recommendations of the committee. Ibrahim Abudu was optimistic that the infrastructure would give the city a new facelift, and also attract businesses and investors. He also commended the contractors for the quality of works being executed.
On the other hand, Hanan Gundadow indicated that the scope of development targeted by his administration required that the city authorities intensify the mobilisation of internal revenue (Internally Generated Funds) to serve as an appendage to the funds from the central government.
According to him, the assembly set an Internally Generated Fund (IGF) target of GH¢1,130,899.91 for the year 2014, but had been able to impressively collect an amount of GH¢605,926.43 as at June 2014, representing 53.6%.
The Tamale Mayor blamed the various telecommunication companies operating in the metropolis, including Vodafone, MTN, GLO, Expresso, Airtel and Tigo, for thwarting the efforts of the assembly by failing to pay the approved Business Operating Permit Fee, amounting to GH¢119,560, and GH¢200,000 for Property Rates.
Similarly, the Volta River Authority (VRA), NEDCo and GRIDCo are also owing the Assembly to the tune of GH¢20,560 and GH¢91,000 for Business Operating Fee and Property Rate respectively.
The Assembly, according to Mr. Hanan Gundadow, had been allocated GH¢2,779,434.96 from the District Assembly Common Fund for the 2014 fiscal year for the execution of their developmental projects. He called for strong collaboration between Zoomlion Ghana Company Limited and the Environmental Health Unit of the Assembly to effectively enhance sanitation in the metropolis.