President John Dramani Mahama has affirmed the Tema Metropolitan Assembly (TMA) as the highest political and administrative authority in the Tema Metropolis, directing TDC Ghana Limited to comply with the Assembly’s statutory powers and regulations.
The directive, contained in a letter issued by the Office of the President on August 28, 2026, follows a prolonged dispute between the two state institutions over development control, planning and permitting in Tema.
The Presidency said the TMA has responsibility for the overall development of the metropolis, including human settlements, municipal services, revenue mobilisation and local planning.
It further maintained that the Assembly is the legally mandated local planning authority responsible for regulating physical development and issuing development and building permits within its jurisdiction.
TDC, on the other hand, was described by the Presidency as a commercially oriented real estate developer rather than a municipal, legislative or planning authority.
The President has therefore directed TDC to recognise and comply with the TMA’s statutory authority over development control, spatial planning, permits, municipal services, rates, fees and other regulatory matters.
The directive means TDC’s projects and activities within the Tema Metropolis must comply with the Assembly’s regulations and applicable laws.
However, President Mahama cautioned the TMA against using its regulatory powers in a manner that is unfair, arbitrary or inconsistent with the law.
He directed the Assembly to exercise its mandate fairly and transparently while ensuring that enforcement does not unnecessarily obstruct legitimate development, investment or TDC’s commercial operations.
The President also stressed that neither institution should assume functions legally assigned to the other.
While the TMA is expected to focus on municipal administration and regulatory responsibilities, TDC is to concentrate on property development and related commercial activities.
The presidential intervention follows a confrontation over construction activities by TDC at Community One, Sites 3 and 8 in Tema.
The TMA had issued a stop-work order and later demolished portions of structures at the project site, arguing that the development had commenced without the required permits.
The Assembly maintained that TDC’s ownership and management of land did not exempt the company from complying with physical planning and development regulations.
TDC rejected that position, arguing that it has an independent statutory mandate to plan, lay out and develop Tema and should not be treated in the same manner as an ordinary private developer.
The company has traced its mandate to 1952, when the Tema Development Corporation was established to oversee the development of the new Tema township and port.
TDC has said approximately 63 square miles of land, known as the Tema Acquisition Area, were acquired from the traditional authorities of Tema, Nungua and Kpone and placed under its management through a 125-year lease.
Although the company acknowledged the TMA’s authority over physical planning, development control and municipal administration, it argued that the Assembly’s responsibilities must operate alongside TDC’s statutory and proprietary interests.
“TDC does not dispute that TMA is a statutory local government authority with responsibilities for physical planning, development control and municipal administration. The issue is whether that mandate can be exercised as though TDC’s separate statutory mandate does not exist,” the company said in an earlier statement.
TDC subsequently petitioned the Minister for Works, Housing and Water Resources, Kenneth Gilbert Adjei, and the Minister for Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs, Ahmed Ibrahim, to intervene.
Ministers given 14 days
As part of the attempt to end the dispute, President Mahama has directed the two ministers to establish an administrative and operational framework defining the respective roles of the TMA and TDC.
The framework is expected to address development permitting, infrastructure coordination, revenue obligations, information sharing, dispute resolution and regular engagement between the two institutions.
The ministers have been given 14 days from the date of the presidential letter to convene both institutions and submit the agreed framework, together with a report on outstanding issues, to the President.
Both TMA and TDC have also been directed to immediately stop actions, public statements and media engagements that could further escalate the dispute.
President Mahama expects both institutions to cooperate fully towards an immediate and lasting resolution.
He warned that any further institutional confrontation, public dispute or refusal to comply with the directive would be treated seriously.
