Tension is mounting between the Tema Metropolitan Assembly (TMA) and TDC Ghana Limited over construction works being undertaken at Community 1, Sites 3 and 8 in Tema.
This follows a decision by the TMA Taskforce to halt the project and demolish structures on the site, which the Assembly says was reserved for a community playground and other public facilities.
Addressing some residents who had gathered at the construction site, Tema Metropolitan Chief Executive, Ebi Bright, said the matter had already been discussed at the metropolitan security level. She said several warnings had been issued to the contractors to suspend work pending the resolution of the matter, but the directives were ignored.
According to her, the developers did not obtain the necessary permit from the Assembly before commencing construction.
“A few days ago, you sent a petition to my office laying out your concerns about several developments within your enclave. You also asked me to step in a mediate between yourselves and TDC to discuss the details around the construction.
Now, I reviewed that, but interestingly, as the Mayor of the city and as the chairperson of the Spatial Planning Committee, with the power vested in me to examine and permit any physical development activity within the metropolis and as an Assembly, we were not aware or in any permitting process for any physical development of any nature. That is a crime under the law,” she said.
The TMA said the demolition was necessary to open access routes for residents and prevent any form of intimidation against them. The Assembly maintained that no physical development should be undertaken within the metropolis without the requisite approvals and permits.
“In the process of trying to engage that dialogue, I sent officers onto the site to ask them to stop work, and to engage, two times. It’s been ignored.
We came here because it is now an issue that we’re discussing at the metro security level. We came here and found evidence of them on site working, despite several interventions on the issue.
So, they disregarded the authority and the mandate of the TMA. So, we set immediately to stop the work as our mandate gives us the responsibility to primarily, first of all, to restore access and mobility for the residents and then to halt the work,” she added.
The development has sparked concerns over the use of land designated for public facilities and the extent of the authority of TDC Ghana Limited to sanction construction projects within the Tema Metropolis.
CitiNewsRoom
