Bartels tasks Tema Development Corporation to focus on housing

Kwamena Bartels, Minister for Works and Housing has tasked the Tema Development Corporation (TDC) to focus on building houses instead of selling land.

"For some time now the TDC has focused its operations on selling land and this should stop. Land sale should be the last option instead of the norm."

Mr Bartels, who was inaugurating a seven-member Board of Directors for the Corporation at Tema, urged the TDC to take steps to de-silt the Sakumono Lagoon to prevent serious flooding.

"Flooding in Accra and elsewhere in the country should be the concern of all to ensure proper planning in cities and urban areas.

"TDC must also control effectively lands zoned for specific uses and collaborate with the Tema Municipal Assembly to enforce planning regulations."

He told the new Board that the government was sourcing funds for housing development and that TDC would be assisted to acquire credit when negotiations were completed.

The Minister suggested that the TDC should consider lighting up the Accra-Tema Motorway to help reduce the high incidence of armed robberies.

Bartels urged the Board to either confirm or appoint a substantive Managing Director and a Deputy Managing Director as its first assignment to assist in the implementation of its programmes.

Nana Prah Agyensaim IV, Chief of Assin Kushea and Chairman of the Board, said the Board would set a new vision, which would be objective and commercial oriented for TDC.

"Tema will see more affordable houses, an improved industrial base, improved sewerage systems, provision of street lights and free flow of traffic under the administration of the new board," said the Nana Agyensaim.

Miss Elizabeth Mansa Banson, TDC's Acting Managing Director, said the

Corporation has a mission to develop Tema as envisaged by its originators and to maintain the township to befit its gateway status.

She said the corporation, therefore, would seek to explore new operational areas in residential, industrial and commercial development and management.