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| Dakpema of Tamale |
Irate youth
in Tamale, the Northern Regional capital, have protested against the Tamale
Dakpema Chief over what they describe as indiscriminate sale of lands in the
metropolis.
The angry youth marched to the chief's palace
demanding that he rescind his decision on the sale of the Kaladan Park to
private developers.
This resulted in a verbal exchange with the
entertainment chief of the Dakpema, Deema-Na Hafiz after he had attempted to
deny them access to the Dakpema chief.
The Tamale Kaladan Park is a recreational facility
where school children, football clubs and keep-fit clubs in the metropolis
gather for sporting activities.
It used to be the official match venue for Real Tamale
United (RTU) until the construction of the Tamale Sports Stadium in 2008.
Spokesperson of the angry youth, Mohammed Zakaria told
Joy News that for more than three months buildings have taken over the Kaladan
Park.
He said the Dakpema chief must "maintain the
Kaladan Park...the benefits which the metropolis is getting in terms of sports is
far better than selling to private developers which in the long run benefit
only some few individuals".
The Tamale Dakpema later in a meeting with the
leadership of the youth said he is unaware of the development taking place at the
Kaladan Park.
Last year government decided to release lands in the
old Kaladan barracks to its original owners.
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| File photo |
With that decision more than 300 retired soldiers and
their families occupying the barracks were given eviction orders by the
Northern Regional Office of the Lands Commission to vacate the barracks and
make way for a redevelopment scheme to be implemented in the Tamale metropolis.
Also affected by the eviction were over 500 traders
and people occupying the area around the Kaladan Park and some parts of Zogbeli
and Aboabo.
Over 200 pupils of Al-Islahiyya Primary and
Tamale Metropolitan Assembly Girls Primary Schools were also left without a
classroom in that exercise.
The notice of eviction letter, at that time dated
January 29, 2013 and signed by Northern Regional Lands Commission Officer
Justice Morgan, stated, “The Lands Commission, in collaboration with the
Department of Town and Country Planning, the Tamale Metropolitan Assembly,
relevant state and traditional institutions, is implementing a comprehensive
redevelopment scheme on the old Kaladan Barracks.”
The reasons for the redevelopment scheme, as stated in
the letter, were to realise the potential of Kaladan Barracks lands through
proper planning and decongesting the central business district of Tamale,
making the area a first-class commercial hub of Tamale and gateway to the
metropolis as well as giving the city a facelift.
However, more than a year after the exercise that led
to the sales of the lands by the Tamale Dakpemah to private developers, no
meaningful development that can impact on the development of the Metropolis has
taken place, the Tamale Youth said.
The Youth also appealed to the Royal regent of Dagbon,
Kampakuya-Na Abdulai Mahamadu Andani and the Northern Regional Coordinating Council
to intervene in ensuring that the Kaladan Park, the only structure left
out so far from the old Kaladan barracks, is preserved for the youth for their
sporting activities.
Story By: Mohammed Hashmin/Joynews
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