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THE MAYOR of the Tamale Metropolitan Assembly, Alhaji Haruna Friday, and his staff, in the early hours of Monday, ran helter-skelter as National Democratic Congress (NDC) hoodlums besieged the premises of the assembly. The weapon-wielding youth were ready to vent their spleen on any member or staff of the assembly who attempted to prevent them with from carrying out their actions. The group, reported to be members of a pressure group calling itself �Action Youth Group� of NDC, vandalized properties of the assembly running into thousands of Ghana cedis. The group claimed they had earlier planned venting their anger on the MCE and staff of the assembly in their bid to teach them a lesson for carrying out a decongestion exercise that was executed over the weekend. The group expressed their dissatisfaction about the leadership style of the Tamale MCE, calling on the President to immediately terminate his appointment as his actions were making the party unpopular in the metropolis. According to the irate youth, the area where the decongestion was carried out was legally acquired from the land owners in Choggu, wondering why the assembly would take such a wicked decision to destroy their livelihood and the party. They also accused the MCE of being selective with the exercise, as some structures were left untouched. In the ensuing commotion, the group vandalized furniture, computers and photo exhibition stands which the assembly displayed its development projects on. They also forcefully attempted to break into the offices of the Metropolitan Coordinating Director to destroy some property there but they were restrained by some of their colleagues. Not satisfied with their action, the irate youth moved to the Northern Regional Coordinating Council (RCC) to continue with their actions but the Minister, Moses Bukari Mabengba, did not allow it. Earlier, Mr. Mabengba suggested meeting the leadership of the group but the others insisted they wanted to be part of the meeting, prompting the minister to drive all of them away. According to him, he intended addressing their concerns but could not do that if they were not coordinated, subsequently asking them to leave his office if they were not prepared to allow him to hold talks with their leaders. Daily Guide can confirm that no arrest has been made since the incident occurred and there seem to be no attempt to apprehend the culprits who are diehard members of the ruling party. Meanwhile, Daily Guide has gathered that the assembly�s premises and the residence of the Mayor are currently under armed police protection, following threats by the youth to smoke the MCE out and deal with him. Sources hinted Daily Guide the MCE had been taken out of town under police escort, to avert a possible bloodshed between his supporters and the rowdy youth who have insisted on visiting mayhem on him The Tamale Metropolitan Assembly, over the weekend, embarked on an exercise to decongest the city as part of measures to ensure the safety and convenience of residents. The exercise was in collaboration with all stakeholders in the city�s management. According to the mayor, the exercise would remove all unauthorized structures within the major ceremonial streets. He assured that the exercise would be done with a human face so that nobody suffered unduly. Alhaji Friday used the opportunity to appeal to residents and owners of such unauthorized structures who would be affected during the exercise to consider re-locating to the Lamashegu, Kalpohin and the abandoned Aboabo Supermarket and other satellite markets within the metropolis. However, as soon as he embarked on the exercise, members of his own party started raining insults on him, prompting the youth to storm his offices.