LANDGUARDS ENCROACH ON TDC LANDS (PAGE 29, APRIL 1, 2010)

The Managing Director of the Tema Development Corporation (TDC), Mr Joe Abbey, has expressed concern about the activities of land guards who have encroached on large tracts of land belonging to the corporation .
He said the activities of the land guards, who have pistols and other harmful implements, posed a great danger to the TDC and the public.
Briefing the Parliamentary Select Committee on Employment, Social Welfare and State Enterprises during a visit to the TDC Mr Abbey said the corporation had alerted the police and the Southern Command of the Military for assistance in curbing the activities of the land guards .
He said another problem confronting the TDC was an overlap in the functions of the TDC and Tema Metropolitan Assembly (TMA), which was a contributory factor to the encroachment of lands and loss of open spaces.
Mr Abbey stated that TDC had made an appeal to the sector minister to initiate discussions on the issue to streamline roles of the two organisations. He, therefore, appealed to Parliament to consider raising the issue on the floor of the House.
He said the TDC and the TMA had agreed to merge two permit processes as a first step in the streamlining of their roles and suggested that the responsibilities of the TMA and TDC should be well-defined to avoid duplication.
He said the TDC was reviewing its activities to boost its performance as stipulated in the performance contract signed with the State Enterprises.
Mr Abbey said as part of the review, the TDC was considering the redevelopment of some old communities in Tema and explained that some abandoned projects, including the TDC Club House, would be rehabilitated, with private sector partnership for early completion.
The Chairman of the Select Committee, Mr Prince Hayibor said the visit was educative and urged the management of TDC to work hard to sustain the corporation .