By Laudia Anyorkor Nunoo
Tema, Jan. 16, GNA – The TDC Ghana Limited has assured residents of the Kaiser Flats in Tema Community Four, that plans to redevelop the area will be carried out transparently, without forced evictions, and with sustained engagement with affected occupants.
Mr Courage Nunekpeku, the Managing Director of TDC, whose remarks followed tensions arising from notices on some structures, said the redevelopment was a comprehensive project, stressing that officials at the highest level would soon visit the area to cut the sod for work to commence.
He, together with some officials of the TDC, met with the aggrieved residents to address their concerns.
Mr Nunekpeku explained that the redevelopment would include a modern housing complex with recreational facilities, a supermarket, and other amenities guided by a master plan, which would be made public during subsequent engagements.
He said TDC had successfully implemented similar initiatives elsewhere, including the ongoing Oxygen City project in Ho, which initially faced scepticism but was now progressing, adding that the Kaiser Flats redevelopment would follow the same determined approach.
He disclosed that the redevelopment of Tema would begin with the Kaiser Flats, noting that within a few months, construction equipment would be visible on site as work commenced.
According to him, TDC was engaging openly with residents and the media, emphasising that the company was not operating secretly or negotiating behind closed doors.
From a technical standpoint, he said the available land from an earlier demolation of some flats within the enclave, could accommodate at least four new blocks of flats, each capable of housing about 60 families, bringing the total capacity to approximately 240 households, added that current occupancy figures were far below that number.
He TDC was prepared to construct new blocks and relocate residents at no cost, after which the old structures would be demolished.
Mr Nunekpeku said provisions such as ground-floor accommodation could be considered for residents who might have emotional attachments to their current homes.
He, however, stressed that the existing structures were unsafe, describing them as uninhabitable and dangerous, warning that Ghana lay within an earthquake-prone zone and that any structural failure could result in a national disaster.
He therefore appealed to residents, including professionals such as lawyers, engineers, and elderly persons within the community, to come together for constructive engagement, saying TDC was open to putting agreements in writing to ensure fairness.
He emphasised that the company had no intention of forcibly ejecting residents from their properties but rather sought to restore the area to a standard befitting its original vision.
Referring to the legacy of Ghana’s first president, Dr Kwame Nkrumah, the MD said the Kaiser Flats were initially designed as a beautiful and functional residential area and questioned whether the nation should allow such heritage to deteriorate after more than six decades.
He described the redevelopment as part of a broader national “reset agenda” aimed at improving living conditions rather than harassing residents.
The Managing Director apologised to residents because earlier notices were communicated, acknowledging that the sudden instruction to vacate had heightened tensions, stressing that TDC could have handled the communication better and took responsibility for the lapse.
He disclosed that upon assuming office, he inherited both assets and liabilities of the company and had been briefed extensively on the Kaiser Flats, including previous stakeholder engagements that had stalled following a change in government.
The MD noted that some residents had previously relocated voluntarily to Kpone, while others were in the process of doing so before the exercise was halted.
He reiterated that while TDC would not compel anyone to relocate, it would continue to advise residents on safety concerns, especially regarding cracked and structurally compromised buildings.
Mr Nunekpeku clarified that he harboured no political ambitions, stating that his sole mandate as TDC’s managing director was to develop Tema, and expressed optimism that improved communication would rebuild trust between the company and residents.
GNA
Edited by Kenneth Odeng Adade