Some Tema Assembly members have described as a lie, a claim by the Metropolitan Chief Executive (MCE) that a plot of land the assembly has released to a private financial institution to develop for its training center in the Central Tema constituency was publicly advertised.
Pleading anonymity, the Assembly members challenged Felix Mensah NiiAnang-La to produce evidence of his defence and minutes of the general assembly meeting where the land in question at Community Four was tabled for discussion.
On Wednesday, some youth of the Horticulture Electoral Area in the Central Tema constituency, halted construction works on a plot of land near the Golden Age Youth Centre at Community Four.
That stretch of land, according to the assembly members, who pleaded anonymity, was allocated by Ishmael Ashitey, then Tema MCE, for the construction of the youth center in 2008.
The facility was completed and commissioned by President Kufuor in that same year, with the view of a future expansion because of reserve land along the stretch.
On Monday, the youth of the area noticed some construction work on the reserve plot of land and the following day, some contractors were sighted digging trencheson the site.
When the youth realised that the project was for a private developer, they quickly moved to the site to stop the work.
Led by the area’s suspended Assembly member, Baba Tunde, the youth remained resolute that unless the project was going to benefit the Assembly and the community, they would resist any attempt to develop the land.
“I was suspended last year by the Tema Assembly because I stood against the wanton illegal sale and leasing of lands in my Electoral Area. The leadership of the assembly does not consult the Assembly whenever they want to carry out such shady deals and because I was exposing them, they suspended me from the Assembly but they have forgotten that my integrity and commitment to my electorate cannot be suspended.
“So, I am here with the youth of the area to register our anger to the MCE and to tell the private developer to stay away from this land because it is government’s property,” the Assembly member for the area said.
Baba Tunde said his checks at the TDC Development Company Limited and Tema Works Department were evident that neither of them were not oblivious of the project on the reserved land.
“The Assembly members too are unaware of the project so who is behind this sale of the land?” Baba Tunde wanted to know.
The media later sought the response of Felix Mensah NiiAnang-La, the Tema MCE, who explained that the Assembly released the said land to the women’s union of a bank (name withheld) for the construction of their training center. “In fact, we (Assembly) advertised it,” he said.
The mention of the said land being advertised by the Assembly to invite investors to develop forced The Chronicle to speak to a few TMA Assembly members, who described the MCE’s defence as a palpable lie and challenged him to provide proof of his explanation.
The Chronicle through Whatsappmessage reached out to the TDC Development Company Limited about the development of the land, saidIan Ocquaye, the Protocol Officer.
He added that: “The youth center land was allocated for the construction of a Golden Age Youth Centre by Ishmael Ashitey, which was completed and commissioned by Ex PresidentKufuor in 2008.
“However, because it was to serve the general public, its management automatically reverted to the Metropolitan Assembly, TMA, but any change of use of the land, either for a joint venture, public or private project or any other purpose must be rezoned and properly leased by the TDC Development Company Limited.
“Records available to TDC on the said land where a facility is being constructed indicate that no formal application for the needed documentation has been communicated to TDC, hence, the organisation is not aware of the said arrangement by the assembly or with any investor.”
Not too long after the message from Mr Ocquaye, a taskforce from TDC Development Company Limited arrived at the site to fix a ‘Stop Work by TDC…26/5/2021’
Read Full Story
Facebook
Twitter
Pinterest
Instagram
Google+
YouTube
LinkedIn
RSS