SETTLE RIVALRY BETWEEN TMA AND TDC (PAGE 30, MARCH 2, 2010)

Some Residents of the Tema Metropolitan Area have appealed to the sector Ministries to investigate the rivalry between the Tema Metropolitan Assembly (TMA) and the Tema Development Corporation (TDC) to set clearly their development functions to save the metropolis from becoming a slum.
Lack of co-ordination between the TMA and the TDC because of some conflicting description of functions in the Act which set up the Assembly and the Act which set up TDC has contributed immensely to indiscriminate development in the Metropolis.
Squatters and illegal developers have chosen to defend themselves by declaring either of the two organisations as the authority which issued permits to them for developments or to erect structures.
This phenomenon has extended to school lands, recreational parks, green belts, social centres and portions of the Community 9 cemetery.
Some residents hold the view that the Tema Metropolis has become the most convenient place for people who have been displaced as a result of the various demolition exercises in Accra and Nungua.
The Daily Graphic, in various interviews with the city authorities, realised that the blame game between the TDC and the TMA had made it difficult for both of them to demolish the illegal structures because many of the squatters affected had some documentation covering their structures.
Residents have, therefore, called for investigations into the roles of the two organisations to solve the problem.
While the TDC blamed the TMA for issuing permits instead of licences the TMA blamed the TDC for giving permits without collaborating with it.
This situation, according to both organisations, had given rise to illegal development and fast rate of encroachments in the metropolis.
The residents the Daily Graphic spoke with expressed sadness at the rate of encroachments in Tema and called on the TDC and TMA to come together to solve the problems of the metropolis.
Some referred to the numerous media reports that gave indications that the TMA was ready to demolish illegal structures to ensure some sanity in development practices in the metropolis.
They claimed that soon Tema would be engulfed in wooden structures in the name of shops and business centres.
The Metropolitan Engineer, Mr Victor Mensah, recently took media personnel round some areas to show them the extent of encroachments in the metropolis with the view to taking steps to have them removed.
The areas included buffer zones reserved to circulate gas generated from liquid waste running from the metropolis through the pumping station, wet lands
Other rounds by the Regional Minister, Nii Armah Ashietey, also took the media and a team of assembly officials to inspect some liquid waste manholes which had been sealed by illegal developers.
He ordered the Assembly to ensure that all illegal structures were cleared to enable Tema recapture its glory and even called for the relocation of second-hand car dealers who operated along the Motorway-harbour road to the Kpone Kokompe area, where they have been offered land to sell their cars on.
It was observed during the various rounds that Tema was in the process of seeing many ‘sodom and Gomorrah’ residential areas very soon.
The decision to remove all illegal structures and demolish temporary structures on reserved lands was confirmed by the Metropolitan Chief Executive, Mr Robert Kempes Ofosuware, and the Metropolitan Co-ordinating Director, Mr Kwaku Akpotosu, at separate interviews.
They claimed that the Metropolitan Engineer had been tasked to draw up a programme for the exercise.
In an interview with the Public Relations Officer of TDC, Mr Sammy Abaka, he said the TDC could not be held responsible for the encroachments.
According to him, TDC planned the city for TMA to manage for the collection of property rates and business fees.
Mr Abaka emphasised that TDC had its shortcomings but blamed the TMA more for the indiscriminate erection of wooden structures occupied by squatters.
He confirmed that some individuals had taken the law into theirhands and put up structures on any available space without permit from either TMA or TDC.
Mr Abeka was of the view that the situation could be brought under control if the two organisations could agree to come to terms to rid the metropolis of encroachment and illegal developers along ceremonial roads, and in wetlands, playgrounds, and social centres among others.
Meanwhile, the number ofthose who have had access to reserved lands in the green belts and school parks continues to expand because of the inaction of the authorities to stop them.