TDC, TMA to solve problem of issuance permits

Tema, Aug 11, GNA -- Management of the Tema Development Corporation (TDC) and the Tema Metropolitan Assembly (TMA) are collaborating to find a lasting solution to the problem associated with the issuance of permits to land developers in the metropolis.

Mr Joe Abbey, Acting Managing Director of the TDC, who announced this, said there was the perception among residents that the relationship between the two companies was not the best. He was addressing assembly members, heads of decentralized departments and residents in the Metropolis, at the First Ordinary Meeting of the Third Session of the TMA at Tema on Monday.

Mr Abbey said that the two companies were determined to change resident's perception and build cordial relationship to realize their common goal of developing the Metropolis.

He said that whereas TDC was in charge of grant works, TMA has the mandate to take property rates from developers noting that "this is about 50 times more than what TDC gets".

Mr Abbey said that it was unfortunate that some residents were of the view that the Corporation's mandate to plan and build the Metropolis had elapsed.

He asked other organizations and the residents to appreciate the role of the Corporation since according to him, other companies such as the Ghana Water Company (GWC) and Electricity Corporation of Ghana (ECG) gained revenue from the communities and houses TDC has constructed. Mr Abbey explained that TDC was set up by government, and was given a 150-year lease to plan and create 25 communities (settlements) on 63 square miles land acquired by government from the Kpone, Tema and Nungua stools.

TDC, he noted, still has over 70 years for its mandate to expire, adding that it has successfully constructed 22 out of the 25 Communities it was tasked to do.

Mr Abbey said that the Corporation was planning a resettlement project to rehabilitate some buildings at old settlements including Kaizer Flats, Community One sites one, two and three. He gave the assurance that no resident in the affected communities would be displaced as "all legal tenants and house owners will be adequately resettled". Mr Kempes Ofusuware, Tema Metropolitan Chief Executive, expressed the hope that the signing of a resolution between the Assembly and TDC would minimise the delay caused by misunderstanding of the process that characterized the acquisition of building permits by developers. 11 Aug 09