By:Benjamin Nii Nai Anyetei
The Government has directed the Tema Metropolitan Assembly (TMA) and TDC Ghana Limited to immediately end their prolonged impasse and work within a clearly defined framework governing their respective mandates.
The directive is contained in a letter from the Office of the President dated August 28, 2026, signed by the Secretary to the President, Callistus Mahama, Ph.D.
Government’s position follows a review of the constitutional and statutory mandates of the two institutions.
According to the Presidency, the TMA, established under the 1992 Constitution and the Local Governance Act, 2016 (Act 936), is the highest political and administrative authority within the Tema Metropolis.
It is responsible for the overall development of the metropolis, management of human settlements, provision of municipal services and mobilisation of revenue from rates, fees, taxes and other duties prescribed by law.
The letter further states that the TMA is the relevant local planning authority under the Land Use and Spatial Planning Act, 2016 (Act 925), with responsibility for regulating physical development and considering applications for development and building permits within its jurisdiction.
TDC Ghana Limited, on the other hand, is described as a limited liability company operating as a commercial-oriented real estate developer.
While acknowledging TDC’s historical contribution to the planning and development of Tema, Government says the company’s current corporate status does not confer municipal, legislative, regulatory or spatial planning authority on it.
Its activities within the Tema Metropolis are therefore subject to the Constitution, applicable enactments, by-laws, planning requirements and lawful regulatory processes administered by the TMA and other competent public authorities.
GOVERNMENT DIRECTIVES
Government has directed TDC to recognise and comply with the constitutional and statutory authority of the TMA in matters relating to development control, spatial planning, permitting, municipal services, rates, fees and other lawful regulatory requirements within the Tema Metropolis.
At the same time, the TMA has been directed to exercise its authority fairly, transparently and strictly in accordance with the law.
Government cautioned that the Assembly’s regulatory powers must not be applied arbitrarily or in a manner that unnecessarily obstructs legitimate development, investment or the commercial operations of TDC.
The directive also makes clear that neither institution shall assume or exercise functions legally assigned to the other.
The TMA is to retain its municipal and regulatory mandate, while TDC is expected to concentrate on its commercial property development and related responsibilities.
The Ministers for Works, Housing and Water Resources, and Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs, have been instructed to jointly establish an administrative and operational framework clearly defining the respective roles, responsibilities and working relationship between the TMA and TDC.
The framework is expected to cover development permitting, infrastructure coordination, revenue obligations, information sharing, dispute resolution and periodic engagement between the two institutions.
Government has further directed that all ongoing actions, public statements and media engagements likely to aggravate the impasse must cease immediately.
The leadership of both institutions is also required to cooperate fully with the two sector ministries and conduct itself in a manner consistent with the collective responsibility of Government.
14-DAY DEADLINE
The two Ministers have been requested to convene the leadership of the TMA and TDC immediately and submit the agreed operational framework to the President.
The framework must be accompanied by a report on the resolution of all outstanding matters within fourteen days of the date of the letter.
The President has stressed the need for both institutions to cooperate fully to bring the matter to an immediate and lasting conclusion.
Government says any further institutional conflict, public confrontation or refusal to comply with the directive will be viewed seriously.
