TDC to eject govt establishments from premises

Tema, April 4, GNA - Eleven government establishments operating from the premises of the Tema Development Corporation (TDC) would by May 31 this year cease operations following an ejection order served on them by the TDC.

The establishments include New Times Corporation, Rent Control, Land Title Registry, Judicial Service, Ghana Education Service and the Survey Department.

The rest are Department of Social Welfare, Department of Co-operatives, Statistical Service Department, Department of Culture and Community Development. A copy of the letter made available to the Ghana News Agency (GNA) dated June 12, 2007 and signed by Mr Joe Abbey, TDC Director of Estates stated in part that "Please note that you are being given a year's notice to quit from your occupation of the TDC offices to enable a demolition exercise to be conducted towards a new redevelopment scheme for the area".

It further read "Please note that by this letter you are being served with notice to quit the premises by May 31, 2008". Another letter dated February 01, 2008 addressed to the Department of Social Welfare also signed by Mr Abbey on behalf of the TDC Managing Director also read "I have been directed to remind you that the deadline for the vacation of the office premises you are occupying remains unchanged at May 31, 2008."

Mr George De Graft Assan, Tema Metropolitan Social Welfare Officer told the GNA on Thursday that the quit order has affected their operations as they spend productive hours seeking for alternative accommodation.

Mr Assan further said none of the 11 departments have been able to secure an office even though the deadline was only a month away. Meanwhile the heads of the 11 affected departments have petitioned the government against the impending ejection saying that government put up structures on the said land for the departments involved. The petition which was dated February 20 and signed by all the departments were copied to all the national offices of the 11 affected departments as well as the office of the Vice President and the Speaker of Parliament among other ministries. The petition read "Our various departments have made frantic effort to look for alternative office accommodation in Tema to house the departments but have not been successful". It further stated that all the affected departments played a major role in the socio-economic development of the Tema Metropolis. The petition added that "without the existence of these institutions the government policy of decentralization cannot be successful," stating further that "the public and civil service institutions concern are the main government machinery in the Tema Metropolis".

It observed that TDC were mandated by law to plan and develop Tema township therefore urging its management not to concentrate only on putting up residential accommodations but also construct structures to house government institutions.

Mr Samuel Abaka, Public Affairs Officer of the TDC told the GNA on telephone that the corporation intends using the premises for a commercial centre.