By Laudia Anyorkor Nunoo, GNA
Tema, Sept. 03, GNA – The government has directed the Tema Metropolitan Assembly (TMA) and TDC Ghana Limited to immediately end their prolonged impasse over the respective mandates of the two institutions in the development and regulation of the Tema Metropolis.
The directive, contained in a letter from the Office of the President dated August 28, 2026, and signed by Dr Callistus Mahama, Secretary to the President, followed a review of the constitutional and statutory mandates of the two institutions.
The government affirmed that the TMA, established under the 1992 Constitution and the Local Governance Act, 2016 (Act 936), was the highest political and administrative authority within the Tema Metropolis.
It said the assembly was responsible for the overall development of the metropolis, management of human settlements, provision of municipal services, and mobilisation of revenue through rates, fees, taxes and duties prescribed by law.
The government also recognised the TMA as the relevant local planning authority under the Land Use and Spatial Planning Act, 2016 (Act 925), with responsibility for regulating physical development and considering applications for development and building permits within its jurisdiction.
It, however, noted that TDC Ghana Limited was a limited liability company operating as a commercially oriented real estate developer.
While acknowledging TDC’s historical contribution to the planning and development of Tema, the government said its current corporate status did not confer municipal, legislative, regulatory or spatial planning authority on the company.
It therefore directed TDC to recognise and comply with the constitutional and statutory authority of the TMA in matters relating to development control, spatial planning, permitting, municipal services, rates, fees and other lawful regulatory requirements within the metropolis.
At the same time, the TMA was directed to exercise its authority fairly, transparently and strictly in accordance with the law.
The government cautioned that the assembly’s regulatory powers should not be applied arbitrarily or in a manner that unnecessarily obstructed legitimate development, investment or the commercial operations of TDC.
It further directed that neither institution should assume or exercise functions legally assigned to the other.
Under the directive, the TMA would retain its municipal and regulatory mandate, while TDC would concentrate on its commercial property development and related responsibilities.
The Ministers for Works, Housing and Water Resources and Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs were directed to jointly establish an administrative and operational framework clearly defining the respective roles, responsibilities and working relationship between the TMA and TDC.
The framework is expected to cover development permitting, infrastructure coordination, revenue obligations, information sharing, dispute resolution, and periodic engagement between the two institutions.
The government has also directed that all ongoing actions, public statements and media engagements likely to aggravate the impasse cease immediately.
The leadership of the TMA and TDC was further required to cooperate fully and conduct themselves in a manner consistent with the collective responsibility of government.
The two Ministers have been requested to convene the leadership of the TMA and TDC immediately and submit the agreed operational framework, together with a report on the resolution of all outstanding matters, to the President within four days of the date of the letter.
The president expects both institutions to cooperate fully to bring the matter to an immediate and lasting conclusion, warning that any further institutional conflict, public confrontation or refusal to comply with the directive would be viewed seriously.
GNA
Edited by Kenneth Odeng Adade
Reporter: Laudia Anyorkor Nunoo, GNA
[email protected]