The Tema Metropolitan Assembly (TMA) has taken stock of compliance to the lockdown and other preventive measures against the spread of COVID-19 in its area.

A situation report signed by Mr Felix Mensah Nii Anang-La, Tema Metropolitan Chief Executive and head of the implementation team, said the Assembly had streamlined some aspects of the measures that needed to be reviewed after the stock taking.

He noted that “the general observation was that compliance was very high and impressive but not without challenges at a few places”, which he indicated recorded pockets of overcrowding and non-compliance.

The areas are Community Nine market which had since been closed down with traders relocated to the Chemu park, Tema Manhean fishing harbour (canoe basin), Tema Manhean township and drinking bar operators within the inner city and the Tema central communities.

He added that food sellers, and dealers in foodstuff in the Tema Community 9 Market on the first day of the lockdown exercise refused to relocate to the temporary open market at Chemu park designated for all satellite markets within the Tema Central area.

The report noted that the canoe basin recorded a huge patronage as a result of bumper catch of fish by fishermen during the eve of the lockdown a situation that saw many fish mongers thronging the place to buy.

He added however that the team stepped in by using an announcement van to educate the fisher folks on the need to observe the preventive measures in addition to dispatching of security personnel to the area to enforce compliance.

Touching on the situation at Tema Manhean township, he stated that “there have been challenges with people crowding around food vending centres and loitering along the streets. The Zinginshore Areas (water land) are the worst offenders. This locality has defied the directive with impunity”.

It added that steps had been taken to step up security presence in the area as “it is a known drug peddling locality where drinking spots are operating under the guise of selling groceries and food”.

Elaborating on the drinking spot operators, the MCE said security details were to ensure strict compliance to the lockdown by closing down all pubs and drinking spots which defied the directive on the first day, especially the ‘blue kiosks’ within community one, communities four, seven, eight and nine as well as within Tema Manhean.