About TDC Ghana Ltd

In the early 1950s, the Government of the Gold Coast initiated the construction of a new seaport at Tema to relieve pressure on Takoradi Harbour, then the only deep-water port. Concurrently, a modern township was planned to house workers for the industrial activities arising from the port and the Akosombo Dam project.

Approximately 63 square miles of land, known as the Tema Acquisition Area (TAA), was compulsorily acquired in 1952 from the Traditional Authorities of Tema, Nungua and Kpone and leased to the newly established Tema Development Corporation.

TDC was given a 125 year lease term to manage this land area known as the Tema Acquisition Area. The Company since its birth has gone through many experiences involving structural and legislative changes that have cumulatively given it a new lease of life.

Initial Functions

Doxiadis Associates was contracted in the 1960s to develop a master plan for the entire Acquisition Area, which, with periodic revisions, continues to guide development to this day.

The 1952 Ordinance has since undergone a series of amendments. Until January 2017, TDC operated on the mandate as provided in the Tema Development Corporation (Amendment) Instrument, 1989 (L.I. 1468), which set out the Corporation's functions as follows:

Through this amendment, the objects of TDC were revised to exclude responsibilities for the maintenance of roads, public buildings, markets and sewerage systems, as well as the provision of public parks and gardens, which originally formed part of its functions. These functions were transferred to the Tema District Assembly (now Tema Metropolitan Assembly - TMA). The amendment also led to a duplication of some development control functions between the Corporation and the Assembly. To manage the resulting potential for friction, a Joint Technical Evaluation Committee was established by the two institutions to process development permit applications.