Tema Metropolitan Chief Executive, Ebi Bright, has insisted that all government projects within the Tema Metropolis must be properly coordinated through the Tema Metropolitan Assembly (TMA) and involve consultations with residents.
Speaking at a media engagement on August 13, 2026, Bright rejected claims that government projects were being undertaken in the municipality without the involvement of the Assembly.
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She said the TMA has the planning and regulatory authority for physical development within the metropolis under Ghana’s local governance laws.
Bright specifically addressed the ongoing disagreement between the TMA and Tema Development Company Limited (TDC) over an infilling project at Community One Site Three.
The Assembly directed TDC to halt the project over alleged breaches of planning and development regulations. TDC has argued that it operates under a special arrangement that allows it to undertake developments without written permits from the Assembly.
Bright rejected that position, citing the Local Governance Act and related 2016 legislation, which vest planning authority in Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies.
She said TDC’s own documentation recognises the need for prior Assembly approval for roads, buildings, housing schemes, industrial and commercial sites and other developments.
According to the Mayor, bypassing the Assembly undermines proper urban planning, consultation with residents and accountability.
She maintained that coordination with the TMA is a legal requirement and not an optional administrative process.
Bright also noted that Tema hosts major national infrastructure, including the port, industrial zones and strategic roads, involving central government agencies and other entities.
She called for clearer coordination between such institutions and the Assembly to ensure that development within the metropolis is properly managed.
The Mayor said her administration remains focused on infrastructure, sanitation, revenue mobilisation and enforcement against unauthorised structures.
She reiterated that no state project in Tema should proceed without the Assembly’s involvement and meaningful consultation with residents.
