Tema Metropolitan Chief Executive (MCE), Ebi Bright, has ordered the shutdown of construction works by TDC Ghana Limited at Community 1, Sites 3 and 8 in Tema, stating that the land was reserved for a community playground and other public facilities.

Speaking to residents and workers in the area on Wednesday, August 12, 2026, she said several warnings had been issued to the contractors to suspend work pending the resolution of the matter, but the directives were ignored.

She further revealed that the developers had not obtained the necessary permit from the Assembly before commencing construction.

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“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 and mediate between yourselves and TDC to discuss the details around the construction,” she explained.

“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, the Assembly was not aware of, or involved in, any permitting process for any physical development of any nature. That is a crime under the law,” she added.

According to the TMA, the demolition was necessary to restore access routes for residents and prevent any form of intimidation against them.

Ebi Bright therefore 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,” she stated.

“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, restore access and mobility for the residents and then halt the work,” she added.

The development has, however, raised concerns among the public over the use of land allocated for public facilities and the extent of the authority of TDC Ghana Limited to sanction construction projects within the Tema Metropolis.

TDC Ghana Ltd has petitioned the Ministers for Works, Housing and Water Resources and Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs to intervene in its ongoing dispute with the Tema Metropolitan Assembly over construction works at Community 1, Sites 3 and 8.

TDC Managing… pic.twitter.com/QBSFB6SIli

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