Tema Development Company Limited has condemned the demolition of portions of its Community One Site Three infilling project by the Tema Metropolitan Assembly , describing the action as unfortunate and premature. 

TDC says the demolition was carried out before the company’s seven-day deadline to respond to concerns raised by the Assembly over permits had expired.

Speaking to Class News, the Managing Director of TDC Ghana Limited, Courage Nunekpeku, said the company received a letter from the TMA dated August 7 but received it on August 10, requesting additional documentation and steps to be taken before the project could proceed.

According to him, TDC immediately responded to the Assembly, drawing attention to what he described as a longstanding relationship between the two institutions.

“We have a longstanding relationship to the extent that whatever project we are doing, we are not supposed to get a permit for a project,” Courage Nunekpeku said.

He explained that the arrangement which, he said, has existed for more than four decades, has also involved TDC providing land to assemblies for their projects without charging for the land.

“That relationship, that understanding, has existed for decades, more than four decades, and that has been the situation. So, we were surprised when we got that letter,” he said.

Courage Nunekpeku said TDC was given seven days to respond and expected the deadline to expire on August 14.

He questioned why the Assembly proceeded to the project site on August 12 before the deadline had elapsed.

“We were expecting that, well, having received our letter, it has a response to us or we will take the steps to pass the process to permit from Assembly,” he said.

“It is changing now, only for us to get a news that you have moved to site. I mean, if you calculate seven, it’s expected that the letter will expire maybe on the 14th. On the 12th, they went to the site and did what happened.”

The dispute centres on TDC's Community One Site Three infilling project which the Tema Metropolitan Assembly has halted over concerns about permits and the use of land earmarked for community facilities. 

TDC has since petitioned higher authorities over the matter and says it is hopeful that the dispute between the two government institutions will be resolved through dialogue.