By Laudia Anyorkor Nunoo
Tema, Aug. 13, GNA – The Tema Metropolitan Assembly (TMA) has directed the Tema Development Company Limited (TDC) to halt an ongoing infilling project at Community One Site Three, citing alleged breaches of planning and development regulations.
Madam Ebi Bright, the Tema Metropolitan Chief Executive (MCE), said the assembly’s intervention followed a petition from residents of Communities One Site Three and Site Eight regarding ongoing physical developments in the area.
According to her, the residents expressed concerns over the felling of approximately 50 trees, demolition of existing structures, encroachment on playgrounds and green belts, and the obstruction of access routes for residents and businesses.
Speaking at a meeting with residents, Madam Bright said the assembly subsequently inspected the area to verify the complaints and found evidence that the activities were ongoing.
She noted that while the assembly had a responsibility to respond to concerns raised by residents, issues involving tree felling, physical development, and obstruction of access could become legal and security matters if the required approvals had not been obtained.
The MCE said the assembly had therefore directed the developers to suspend work to enable proper engagement with residents and the relevant authorities.
She emphasised that any development in the area must go through the appropriate planning, consultation, rezoning, and permitting processes.
Madam Bright explained that under Ghana’s local governance and spatial planning framework, district assemblies were the planning authorities within their jurisdictions and were responsible for regulating physical development.
She said any proposed change in the use of public spaces must undergo the prescribed statutory procedures, including the necessary approvals, consultations, and permitting processes.
According to her, the process would involve assessing the proposed development, engaging affected residents, considering objections, obtaining the necessary approvals, and subsequently issuing development permits.
Madam Bright maintained that the Community One Site Three project had not followed that sequence.
She also dismissed suggestions that the project had been initiated at the direction of President John Dramani Mahama, stating that the President had not instructed TDC to disregard residents’ concerns.
“The President has not asked for this project. It has nothing to do with him,” she said.
She added that any state-backed development within the metropolis must comply with the law and established local governance procedures.
Madam Bright said the TMA respected TDC’s role in land ownership, property management, and lease administration but maintained that these functions did not confer planning and regulatory authority on the company.
According to her, following changes in the local governance framework, TDC, as a limited liability company, could not exercise regulatory functions such as issuing building permits, rezoning public spaces, or undertaking demolitions without the authority of the assembly.
She further alleged that some residents had received conflicting notices from TMA and TDC and claimed that certain structures bearing TMA permit numbers had been demolished by a TDC task force.
Describing such actions as unlawful, Madam Bright said the assembly would not allow residents to be subjected to harassment or protracted legal disputes over development matters.
The MCE cited provisions of the Land Act, 2020 (Act 1036), which she said criminalised the unlawful exercise or purported exercise of supervision or control over land development.
She cautioned TDC against what she described as attempts to exercise powers beyond its statutory mandate.
Madam Bright also expressed concern about the presence of military and police personnel allegedly providing security at the project site.
She said those personnel were not part of the metropolitan security architecture and questioned the circumstances under which security officers would provide cover for activities the assembly considered contrary to its mandate.
The MCE stressed that TMA’s position was not intended to undermine TDC’s role in Tema’s land and property administration but rather to ensure that all institutions operated within their respective legal mandates.
She said the assembly remained ready to collaborate with TDC on development initiatives, provided statutory requirements and institutional boundaries were respected.
Madam Bright, who also chairs the Metropolitan Security Council (METSEC), said the assembly had pursued dialogue and engagement rather than confrontation and had consulted TDC and relevant ministries to resolve the dispute.
She said the ultimate goal was to preserve Tema’s status as Ghana’s premier planned city through effective planning, clear institutional responsibilities, and orderly development.
Madam Bright assured residents of Communities One Site Three and Site Eight that the assembly would continue engaging stakeholders to resolve the matter amicably and ensure that their concerns were considered.
Meanwhile, Mr Courage Nunekpeku, Managing Director of TDC, had earlier expressed concern over the disruption of the infilling project, stating that it had undergone approval and procurement processes involving the Ministry of Finance, the Public Procurement Authority, the Ministry of Works and Housing, and the Ministry of Water Resources.
Mr Nunekpeku alleged that although TDC received a letter from the TMA on August 7, 2026, requesting compliance within seven days, the MCE led a team to the project site on August 12, before the expiration of the deadline, resulting in the destruction of some work undertaken by the contractor.
He said the development could expose the state to financial losses because the project was being funded with public resources.
Mr Nunekpeku called for stronger collaboration among state institutions to prevent disagreements from undermining government-funded development projects.
GNA
Edited by Lydia Kukua Asamoah
Reporter: Laudia Anyorkor Nunoo
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