The wanton sale of Reserved lands, Greenbelts and buffer lands within the Tema Acquisition area by the Tema Metropolitan Assembly(TMA) and the TDC Company Limited to private developers has become a source of worry for most residents within the Tema Metropolis.
These greenbelts, buffers and reservations which served as green parks, Children’s Playgrounds, recreational centres for the youth and assembly points for the community in the event of natural disasters have been taken over by private developers who have converted those reserved spaces to fuel stations, drinking lounges and apartments. An act that contravenes the laws of both TDC and TMA prohibiting the erection of permanent structures on such reserved lands.
In March 2016, Hon. Samson Ahi, the Deputy Minister in charge of Housing at the Ministry of Water Resourses, Works and Housing disclosed to the media that for TDC to facilitate the orderly development of Tema, the change of TDC from corporation to limited liability company had become necessary because the TDC had exhausted its Tema acquisition area. The new law was hence passed to enable the TDC work along sound commercial lines beyond the Tema Acquisition area.
This was contained in a Graphic online story by Doreen Andoh dated March 8, 2016 and under the heading, TDC now a limited liability company.
So it is baffling that if lands in Tema were exhausted before 2016 hence the need for the conversion, what law would still give the now TDC Company limited the authority to continue the sale of Reserved lands to this day?
It is very surprising to always wake up to the news that a Children’s park has been sold, a greenbelt or a youth park has been sold.
It has become a norm that ought to be nipped in the bud. A typical example is the Community Nine Children’s park which has been sold to a private developer who has converted it to a Drinking Lounge.
The TDC and TMA owe the children an apology and must take steps to reinstate the community Playgrounds.
Tema Central alone used to have four Children’s playground but there is now nothing to show.
Playgrounds have enormous physical, mental, social and emotional benefits to the Children hence the need for TMA and TDC to bring back the Children’s Playgrounds.