TMA cautions staff against granting of fictitious permits

Tema, June 26, GNA-- Mr David Quaye Annang, the Chief Executive of Tema Metropolitan Assembly (TMA), on Wednesday cautioned staff of the assembly against the granting of fictitious permits to land developers. He also advised the assembly members to consult planning and development authorities before issuing permits to developers to avoid defacing the Tema township.

Mr Annang, who was speaking at the first ordinary meeting of the second session of the assembly in Tema, said "I wish to sound a strong caution to staff who go beyond their bounds to grant fictitious permits to developers. They will not be spared when caught". He said TMA would introduce electronic format to generate reliable database on building permits to facilitate the processing of permits. Mr Annang said revenue mobilized by the assembly at the end of December 31 last year was GH¢7,009,840.11, representing 95.22 per cent of GH¢7,361,996.10 targeted.

He said that GH¢3,732,996.60, representing 99.42 per cent of GH¢3,754,596.10 envisaged, was internally generated at the end of last year.

Mr Annang explained that the shortfall in revenue was as a result of the inability of Volta Aluminium Company (VALCO) to meet its production target following the energy crises that affected most industrial operations within the metropolis, adding that VALCO was one of the assembly's most reliable sources of revenue. He said the assembly would increase the house-to-house refuse collection from once a week to twice a week and that of communal containers from twice a week to daily disposal, to improve sanitation in the area, Mr Annang said TMA was contacting private waste management companies to help in waste removal.

He appealed to individuals and organizations to assist the assembly to provide a permanent administrative block for the Tema Metropolitan Education Directorate because the workers were being ejected from the building. Mr Annang said TMA was financially weak and could not single-handedly provide a building for the staff. He said a request made by the assembly to the Ministry of Works and Housing to intervene on behalf of staff of the Directorate and other government departments and agencies facing ejection by the Tema Development Corporation did not yield any positive result.