Tamale, May 10, GNA - Shop owners at the Tamale Aboabo market have decried the constant thefts and other social vices of thugs who have invaded the market, creating insecurity for businesses in the area. They have therefore, appealed to the city authorities to come to the aid of the traders by providing adequate protection to life and property to ensure that people operated in an atmosphere of peace. Mr. Dauda Dawuni, spokesperson for the Tiehi-Suma Association in the Aboabo market expressed the concern when Alhaji Abdulai Haruna Friday, Tamale Metropolitan Chief Executive addressed them after a clean-up exercise on Saturday.

The MCE has embarked on a massive cleanup exercise to clear the filth that has engulfed the Metropolis, which he is undertaking as one of his priority areas of developing the Metropolis. Alhaji Friday on Saturday organized a cleanup exercise in parts of the market and personally entered into some drains to remove the rubbish that choked them and attracted by-passers who voluntarily joined to clear the filth.

Mr. Dawuni said shop owners and other business persons were living in fear of thugs' attacks and appealed to the MCE to help provide security and also to help construct drains for passage of water when it rained.

He said during the rainy season, the place becomes so muddy, making access to the market very uncomfortable and needed the attention of the Assembly to ensure that the place became accessible. Alhaji Friday advised the traders to constantly clean the market to avoid infection of preventable diseases.

He said; "Cleanliness is next to Godliness" and that Tamale was the gateway to the three Northern regions, which needed to be clean to attract investors.

He therefore appealed to people in the Metropolis to organise clean-up every Saturday to rid the city of filth to attract investors into the Metropolis to create jobs for the unemployed youth. He assured the shop owners that the Metro Assembly would liaise with the Metropolitan Police to see how best they could provide adequate security to protect lives and properties. 10 May 09