The Minister for Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs, Mahama Ayariga, has assured traders at the Aboabo Market in Tamale that they will not be evicted as the government plans to redevelop the facility.
Mr Ayariga gave the assurance on Monday, October 12, during a tour of the market with the Deputy Minister for Roads and Highways, Alhassan Suhuyini, where they engaged traders over concerns about the proposed redevelopment.
He said the government’s objective was to improve the existing market infrastructure, expand its capacity and create space for more traders, rather than displace those already operating there.
“We are not here to sack anybody. We have no plans of sacking anybody. We are here to develop what you are already managing so that it can take more people,” he said.
Mr Ayariga also stressed the importance of completing existing structures at the market, noting that doing so would help prevent resources already invested in the project from going to waste.
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He added that the redevelopment was intended to fulfil a commitment made by President John Dramani Mahama during the election campaign.
The assurance follows agitation among traders over rumours that they would be evacuated to make way for the redevelopment.
Mr Ayariga’s remarks were intended to allay those concerns, with the Minister reiterating that the government planned to improve the facility without forcing existing traders out of the market.
