Mr Moses Bukari Mabengba, the Northern Regional Minister, has expressed concern about the spate of lawlessness and indiscipline in the Tamale Metropolis. He cited haphazard development, especially in peri-urban settlements, where traditional leaders and landowners were selling land for various projects, which does not conform to rules and regulations of the Assembly. Mr Mabengba expressed the dissatisfaction in an address read on his behalf by Mr Sam Nasamu Asabigi, the Deputy Regional Minister, at the first ordinary meeting of the Tamale Metropolitan Assembly, in Tamale on Wednesday. He said “parcels of land were being carved out of existing schemed plots of land for sale to developers.” Mr Mabengba said the situation could lead to conflicts and violence because access routes or roads to some houses were being blocked. He stated that “much as we want more developers to come to the Metropolis, we should ensure that they build structures according to plan, to avoid the springing up of slums”. Mr Mabengba cautioned traders to refrain from selling on pavements, and motorbike riders who at times operate without light, from also using pavements since they obstruct the movement of pedestrians. He expressed worry over the falling standards of education in the Metropolis even though government was providing infrastructure, free school uniforms and exercise books, to improve education in the area. Mr Mabengba said that for the past seven years, the Metropolis continued to perform poorly in the Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE). He said in 2004, the Metropolis was 29th on the national league table on the BECE, and in 2005 it was 69th, in 2006 it was 88th and in 2007 91st. Mr Mabengba said in 2008 and 2009 the Metropolis dropped to 89th and 98th positions respectively while in 2010 it was 103rd. Alhaji Abudulai Harruna Friday, Tamale Metropolitan Chief Executive, said the Assembly set a revenue target of 1,264,008.00 Ghana cedis for this year, and it has so far collected 548,280.52 Ghana cedis. He said private companies including Christ Adjei Enterprise and Gold Street Real Estates have been contacted to assist the Assembly in revenue collection. Alhaji Friday said the Assembly was rehabilitating street lights in the Metropolis at a cost of 40,000.00 Ghana cedis, and work would be completed by the end of next month. The Assembly was also constructing and rehabilitating school blocks in the Metropolis. Source: GNA