TMA Mayor blames TDC, chiefs for unauthorized devts

Kpone, June 27, GNA - The overlapping functions of the Tema Municipal Assembly (TMA) and Tema Development Corporation (TDC) has contributed largely to unauthorized developments in the Tema Municipality, Mr David Quaye Annang, Tema Municipal Chief Executive, has said. He blamed chiefs also for the haphazard development of the city. Mr Annan said the TDC sells land within government acquisition area and transfers ownership to developers.

The developers then submit building plans to the TMA for vetting and approval and if it is realized that the land allocated by the TDC is wrongly sited, the developers go ahead to develop in spite of the disapproval from the TMA.

He expressed regret that traditional rulers also allocate land outside the government acquisition area indiscrim inately to applicants regardless of the condition of the area. Mr Annan said this when he toured some waterlogged areas in the municipality.

Sunday's night rains left so many places flooded because developments had been sited on waterways and the worst affected areas were Kpone, Ashaiman Newtown, Zenu and Tema Community two Horticulture area.

At Kpone development had got close to the Gao Lagoon and the bases of buildings were wet. The situation was not different at Ashaiman Newtown where the Gbemi stream overflowed its banks into rooms. Some residents at Zenu living close to the big drain said even though they are aware of the risk "God is our defender" and they were reluctant to disclose who allocated the area to them but an informant mentioned some chiefs.

At the Tema Community two Horticulture area, about five residents who pleaded anonymity said officials of the TDC allocated the area to them. They appealed to the authorities to de-silt the drain for them as it overflows into their rooms when it rains. Mr Annan said irrespective of who allocated the land to developers TMA would not hesitate to demolish such developments if they are sited on water ways.