President Mahama has directed the Minister for Works, Housing and Water Resources, Ahmed Ibrahim and the Minister for Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs, Mahama Ayariga to submit a report on the resolution of the impasse between the Tema Metropolitan Assembly (TMA) and TDC Ghana Limited (TDC) within 14 days.
The Ministers have also been tasked to jointly establish an administrative and operational framework clearly defining the respective roles and working relationship between 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.
"The two Ministers are requested to convene the leadership of TMA and TDC immediately and submit the agreed operational framework, together with a report on the resolution of all outstanding matters, to the President within fourteen days of the date of this letter," a letter from the Presidency stated.
Government has also ordered an immediate cessation of all ongoing actions, public statements and media engagements likely to aggravate the impasse.
The leadership of both institutions has been directed to cooperate fully with the two sector ministries and conduct themselves in line with the collective responsibility of government.
The two ministers are expected to convene the leadership of TMA and TDC immediately and submit an agreed operational framework.
The government’s intervention follows a dispute over construction activities at Community One, Sites 3 and 8, where the TMA issued a stop-work order and subsequently demolished portions of structures at the project site.
The Assembly maintained that the development had commenced without the necessary permits. TDC subsequently petitioned the former Ministers for Works, Housing and Water Resources, Kenneth Gilbert Adjei, and for Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs, Ahmed Ibrahim, to intervene.
This followed complaints from residents about the alleged felling of trees, demolition of existing structures, appropriation of playgrounds and green belts, and obstruction of access to homes and businesses.
The Office of the President, in a letter dated August 28, 2026, directed the Tema Metropolitan Assembly (TMA) and Tema Development Corporation (TDC) Ghana Limited to end their protracted institutional dispute and establish a clear framework for working together.
It affirmed the TMA as the highest political and administrative authority within the Tema Metropolis.
The Presidency also maintained that the TMA remains the local planning authority, with responsibility for regulating physical development and issuing development and building permits within its jurisdiction.
According to the government, the TMA, established under the 1992 Constitution and the Local Governance Act, 2016 (Act 936), is responsible for the overall development of the metropolis, management of human settlements, provision of municipal services and mobilisation of revenue through rates, fees, taxes and duties prescribed by law.
The government further stated that under the Land Use and Spatial Planning Act, 2016 (Act 925), the TMA is the relevant local planning authority responsible for regulating physical development and considering applications for development and building permits within its jurisdiction.
While acknowledging TDC’s historical contribution to the planning and development of Tema, government said the company’s current status as a commercially oriented real estate developer does not confer municipal, legislative, regulatory or spatial planning authority on it.
“TDC Ghana Limited, on the other hand, is a limited liability company operating as a commercially oriented real estate developer,” the statement said.
It added that TDC’s activities within the Tema Metropolis are subject to the Constitution, applicable laws, by-laws, planning requirements and lawful regulatory processes administered by the TMA and other competent public authorities.
Government, however, directed the TMA to exercise its regulatory authority fairly, transparently and strictly in accordance with the law.
The Assembly has also been cautioned against applying its regulatory powers arbitrarily or in a manner that unnecessarily obstructs legitimate development, investment or TDC’s commercial operations.
Government warned that any further institutional conflict, public confrontation or refusal to comply with the directive would be viewed seriously.
“The President expects both institutions to cooperate fully in bringing this matter to an immediate and lasting conclusion,” the statement said.