TDC, TMA owe our children their playground

The wanton sale of reserved lands, greenbelts and buffer lands within the Tema acquisition area to private developers has become a source of worry for most residents within the Tema Metropolis.

These greenbelts, buffers and reservations, which served as green parks, playgrounds, recreational spaces for the youth and  assembly points for the community in the event of natural disasters have been taken over by private developers who have converted them into fuel stations, drinking lounges and apartments. 

That contravenes the laws of both TDC and TMA that prohibits the erection of permanent structures on such lands.

In March 2016, Samson Ahi, the Deputy Minister at the Ministry of Water Resources, Works and Housing, disclosed that for the TDC to facilitate the orderly development of Tema, the change of TDC from corporation to a limited liability company had become necessary because the TDC had exhausted its Tema acquisition area.

 The new law was hence passed to enable the TDC to work along sound commercial lines beyond the Tema acquisition area.

Graphic Online published it on March 8, 2016 and under the heading, TDC now a limited liability company.

So, it is baffling that lands in Tema were exhausted before 2016, and thus the need for the conversion.

Therefore, what law would still give the TDC Company Limited the authority to continue the sale of reserved lands to this day?

It is surprising to always wake up to the news that a Childrens Park has been sold, a greenbelt or youth park has been sold.

It has become a norm that ought to be nipped in the bud.

A typical example is the Community 9 Children’s Park, which has been sold to a private developer who has converted it into a drinking lounge.

The TDC and TMA owe the children an apology and must take steps to reinstate the community playground.

Tema Central alone used to have four children’s playground, but there is now nothing to show.

Playgrounds have enormous physical, mental, social and emotional benefits to children, hence the need for TMA and TDC to bring back the children’s playgrounds. 

Abraham Lartey,
Social activist.
E-mail: larteyabraham@hotmail.com