A major government housing-related development project in Tema has been suspended after the Tema Metropolitan Assembly (TMA) moved to halt construction over alleged permit and land-use violations.
The dispute centres on a project being executed by TDC Ghana Limited at Site 3 in Community One, where shops and office spaces are being developed on behalf of the Government of Ghana.
The TMA issued a directive ordering TDC Ghana Limited to stop work and provide all statutory permits for the project, arguing that the development was taking place on land designated as an open space for public use.
In a letter dated August 10, 2026, the Assembly cited provisions of the Local Governance Act, 2016 (Act 936), the Land Use and Spatial Planning Act, 2016 (Act 925), and the TMA By-Laws, 2018, in support of its enforcement action against what it described as unauthorised development.
The Assembly gave TDC Ghana Limited a seven-day ultimatum to suspend construction and submit the required approvals, warning that failure to comply could lead to enforcement measures.
However, the situation escalated before the deadline expired.
On Wednesday, August 12, the TMA, led by Metropolitan Chief Executive Ebi Bright and accompanied by police officers and Assembly officials, reportedly intervened at the project site and ordered an immediate halt to construction activities.
The action effectively suspended work on the development, which was still at the site-clearing and setting-out stage.
TDC Ghana Limited had responded to the Assembly’s concerns in a letter dated August 11, arguing that the TMA’s position was inconsistent with established institutional arrangements governing government projects in the metropolis.
The company said it intended to refer the matter to the appropriate statutory authorities for an amicable inter-institutional resolution.
The confrontation has brought renewed attention to the relationship between the Tema Metropolitan Assembly and TDC Ghana Limited, particularly regarding planning approvals and the execution of government-backed developments.
With construction now halted, the future of the project remains uncertain as both institutions seek to resolve the dispute over permits, land use and regulatory authority.
