TMA/TDC impasse: President reaffirms TMA’s authority in Tema Metropolis

A statement issued by Dr Callistus Mahama, the Executive Secretary to the President titled “Government’s Position on the Impasse between the Tema Metropolitan Assembly and TDC Ghana Ltd,” said following a review of the constitutional and statutory mandates of the two institutions, the Government affirms that the TMA, as a Metropolitan Assembly established under the 1992 Constitution and the Local Governance Act, 2016 (Act 936), was the highest political and administrative authority within the Tema Metropolis.

The statement said accordingly, the government had directed that TDC shall recognise and comply with the constitutional and statutory authority of the TMA in all matters relating to development control, spatial planning, permitting, municipal services, rates, fees and other lawful regulatory requirements within the Tema Metropolis.

It said neither of the institutions shall assume or exercise functions legally assigned to the other, and that TMA shall retain its municipal and regulatory mandate, while TDC shall concentrate on its commercial property development and related responsibilities; The statement said the Ministers for Works, Housing and Water Resources and Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs, shall jointly establish an administrative and operational framework clearly defining the respective roles, responsibilities and working relationship between TMA and TDC.