Some Concerned Traders of the Aboabo Market in Tamale are fighting what they say is an attempt to illegally sell government lands they have occupied for nine years to private developers.

The said lands are around the Picorna Hotel road close to the West Hospital.

According to the traders, they were relocated in 2014 following a planned construction of the Tamale Aboabo Market lorry park by the then Mayor to the current place which is under litigation now.

Their concerns follow a similar protest at the Timber Market where the operators accused the Lands Commission of selling government land to private developers.

Late last year, the Northern Regional Minister, Alhaji Shani Alhassan Saibu raised concerns over how state lands were been taken over and the confusion it was creating at the Regional Coordinating Council's quarterly review meetings.

At a press conference to register their displeasure, a member of the group, Abdul Mumin said they would use every legitimate means to stop the Lands Commission from selling the land.

He said they have nowhere else to go because they were not re-admitted into the market after its completion, adding that their current location is an enclave meant to host the fast-growing market in the future.

Mr Mumin said the land housing them has been authenticated by authorities as a space earmarked for future expansion of the Aboabo Market. It is therefore questionable why the Lands Commission would serve them an eviction notice to evacuate from the land meant for future market expansion.

He expressed worry about the current unemployment situation in the country and how their eviction may further worsen the situation; calling on government to intervene.

Mr Mumin also appealed to government to rather engage engineers and expert to expand part of the land into market space to contain the growing demand.