Minister asks TMA to review TEXPO contract

Tema, April 28, GNA - The Greater Accra Regional Minister, Nii Armah Ashitey, has called on the Chief Executive and Assembly Members of the Tema Metropolitan Assembly (TMA) to urgently review the Tema International Trade Exposition Centre (TEXPO) contract. Nii Ashitey said the Assembly must "revisit the 1.2 billion cedi contract and take back the land."

He made the call on Friday during the confirmation of Mr Robert Kempes Ofosuware as the Tema Metropolitan Chief Executive. The TEXPO project, which Nii Ashitey initiated when he was the Chief Executive of TMA, was to create a platform for business and commerce in the metropolis.

The 24-acre land project, which was to have a shopping mall, banks, playground, restaurants, and offices for big companies in Tema as well as a showroom for cars, was abandoned and leased to Jospong Group of Companies for 50 years.

The contract was signed in 2005 and under it the company would own 70 percent shares while TMA owns 30 percent shares. Jospong Group of Companies, as part of the agreement, paid 1.2 billion cedis to land owners as compensation on behalf of TMA.

Nii Ashitey appealed to the assembly to also eject encroachers on a 26-acre land at Adjriganor acquired by the TMA during his tenure to be used for offices and residential accommodation for workers of the metropolis.

He appealed to the assembly to map out strategies to use these resources judiciously to generate revenue for the development of the metropolis, adding that the TEXPO project is still viable.