Presidency gives Mahama Ayariga, Ahmed Ibrahim 14 days to submit resolution report on TMA-TDC power clash
The Presidency 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 resolve the longstanding dispute between the Tema Metropolitan Assembly (TMA) and TDC Ghana Limited (TDC) and submit a report within 14 days.
The two ministers have also been tasked with developing an administrative and operational framework to clearly define the respective roles and working relationship between the TMA and TDC.
The framework is expected to address 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.
As part of the intervention, government has ordered an immediate halt to actions, public statements and media engagements that could further aggravate the dispute.
The leadership of both institutions has been directed to cooperate fully with the two sector ministries and conduct themselves in accordance with the principle of collective government responsibility.
The directive follows a protracted disagreement 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 requisite permits, while TDC petitioned the then Minister for Works, Housing and Water Resources, Kenneth Gilbert Adjei, and the then Minister for Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs, Ahmed Ibrahim, to intervene.
The dispute followed complaints from residents over the alleged felling of trees, demolition of existing structures, appropriation of playgrounds and green belts, and obstruction of access to homes and businesses.
In a letter dated August 28, 2026, the Office of the President directed the TMA and TDC to bring their institutional impasse to an end and establish a clear framework for cooperation.
The Presidency affirmed the TMA as the highest political and administrative authority within the Tema Metropolis and maintained that the Assembly remains the local planning authority.
According to 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 responsible for regulating physical development and considering applications for development and building permits within its jurisdiction.
While recognising TDC’s historical role in the planning and development of Tema, the government said the corporation’s current status as a commercially oriented real estate developer does not give it municipal, legislative, regulatory or spatial planning authority.
“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 operations 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, cautioned the TMA to exercise its regulatory powers fairly, transparently and strictly in accordance with the law.
The Assembly was also warned against using its regulatory authority arbitrarily or in ways that could unnecessarily frustrate legitimate development, investment or TDC’s commercial activities.
The Presidency said the two institutions must work towards an immediate and lasting resolution of their differences.
It warned that any further institutional conflict, public confrontation or refusal to comply with the directive would be treated seriously.
“The President expects both institutions to cooperate fully in bringing this matter to an immediate and lasting conclusion,” the statement said.