Residents in the Tema Region have stated that they are ready to oppose any efforts by the Tema Metropolitan Assembly (TMA) and the Tema Development Corporation (TDC) to sell the Tema Library and Children’s Playground.
Speaking to the media, the concerned residents asserted that these vital community assets, which have faithfully served the area for over three decades, are purportedly being sold to a private developer for the construction of a shopping mall or casino.
Their opposition is rooted in the belief that the park should not be repurposed for commercial use. They have made a resolute pledge to stage protests and demonstrations until all ongoing work is brought to a complete halt.
A circulating online video reveals a site engineer overseeing the land’s clearance through the use of an excavator, resulting in heaps of sand and stones on the library’s premises. According to the local youth, the engineer informed them that the park had been sold, and he was overseeing the new development. They also noted the presence of four individuals in TDC Task Force uniforms supervising the activity.
During an interview with the media, a member of the Tema Youth, Gideon Kodzo Tetteh, shared his perspective, “the library is running as we speak. They organize sessions for people. Two weeks ago, we went there and found sand and stones on the site. So we inquired, and they said some gentlemen brought them at dawn. And they are claiming ownership of the land.”
“And they said they are coming to start a development. I inquired to know who the gentlemen were and if they showed permits and where they came from. The following day, we were there when the guys came. I confronted them, and they said they had documents, which they showed to us. I saw TDC, TMA, and a few names.”
“I went to Tema West Assembly, and they said the place was sold a long time ago, even before they created Tema West Municipal Assembly. They told us to go to TDC, we went there, and they said they gave all government lands back to Tema West Assembly. It was a triangle of being tossed all over. I did my own checks and realized the arrangements started in 2012 under the leadership of then MCE Kemphis Ofosu-Ware, and approval was given in 2013. TDC hasn’t given any official communication yet.”
In response to these concerns, Ian Okwe, the Protocol and Administrative Officer at TDC, clarified that the library is situated within the Community 5 playing ground. He confirmed that the private developer has been directed to halt ongoing work.
“I went to Tema West Assembly, and they said the place was sold a long time ago, even before they created Tema West Municipal Assembly. They told us to go to TDC, we went there, and they said they gave all government lands back to Tema West Assembly. It was a triangle of being tossed all over. I did my own checks and realized the arrangements started in 2012 under the leadership of then MCE Kemphis Ofosu-Ware, and approval was given in 2013. TDC hasn’t given any official communication yet.”
In response to these concerns, Ian Okwe, the Protocol and Administrative Officer at TDC, clarified that the library is situated within the Community 5 playing ground. He confirmed that the private developer has been directed to halt ongoing work.
He explained, “the library is part of Community 5 playing ground. There’s nowhere on our layout that there’s a land designated for the library. In the living space for the park, the library is part of the land used for that particular playground. The request came that TDC should release the playing ground to TMA for the construction of an ultra-modern playing ground.
“As it stands now, nobody has brought any drawings indicating that they are going to construct any casino or whatever there. Management’s attention has been brought to it, the Board chair of TDC went there, and ordered that they stop work,” he told sit-in host Nathen Quao.
The residents have made a call to the government to intervene and prevent the sale of the library and playground.
