Tema, Feb 16, GNA -- The Tema Municipal Assembly (TMA) will soon launch an exercise to clear the Harbour City's central business area of hawkers and illegal structures.

The assembly has given hawkers and owners of kiosks located at unauthorised places to relocate within two weeks. Mr Frank Asante, the Public Relations Officer of TMA, told the GNA in an interview that meetings had been held with the traders to brief them on the intended action.

He said markets at communities Two, Four, Seven, and Sakumono have been abandoned and sellers have flocked the streets of the central business area.

''Those who have sheds in the Community One market have turned them into warehouses where they keep their goods at night and move them to the pavements to sell the following morning.''

Mr Asante said the assembly is considering giving notice to owners of the sheds to occupy them or they would be reallocated. On the dilapidated Meridian Hotel, Mr Asante said the assembly, as part of its measures to eject squatters from the building, would soon block all entry points into the building. 16 Feb 05