By Albert Futukpor, GNA
Accra, June 26, GNA – An ongoing construction of a bus terminal at a residential area at Tishigu, a suburb of Tamale, has become a source of discomfort for the residents, who want the project stopped immediately.
On May 29, this year, a private company commenced the construction of a bus terminal in the residential area, and so far the foundation for the project has been laid.
The company did not secure permit from the Tamale Metropolitan Assembly (TaMA) neither did it consult the residents as demanded by the country’s environmental laws before commencing construction works on the project.
The bus terminal has been sited on two residential plots in the area, blocking an access route to other buildings in the area and also difficult for emergency services such as Fire Service to access the area.
Some of the residents also complained about the positioning of the washrooms of the bus terminal saying that, the expected stench from the facility, due to the expected high patronage, would be unbearable to them.
The Ghana News Agency (GNA) gathered that residents drew attention of the TaMA to stop the project but nothing had happened until they (residents) secured an injunction from the court to put the construction works on hold.
Fifteen heads of families and property owners in the area, therefore petitioned the TaMA to step in to stop the project.
The GNA secured a copy of the petition signed by the 15 heads of families and property owners, which read “As residents and being well aware of the character of a bus terminal thus; excessive noise pollution, impeding access to traffic flow in this particular situation to nearby houses, attendant springing up of other noise making commercial activities, and the harbouring of criminals, seek to strongly avert such an unholy character in this settlement”.
Mr Adam Yussif Hamdan, one of the signatories to the petition, told GNA in Tamale that if the bus terminal was allowed in the area, “There would be a substantial pollution of the environment, amity, and the peaceful enjoyment of the settlement”.
He appealed to the TaMA to take the needed action to stop the project because TaMA was the rightful institution with the appropriate authority to stop the perpetuation of wrong deeds and to ensure that the right things were upheld in the area.
Mr Abdul Rahman Baba, Coordinating Director of TaMA, in an interview with the GNA, acknowledged receipt of a petition from Tishigu residents on the issue but said the company undertaking the project had applied for a permit, adding that, a decision on whether or not to grant the permit was yet to be taken.
He, however, said even though Tishigu was a residential area, “It can always be re-zoned”.
AF/KKY
