The Managing Director of TDC Ghana Ltd, Courage Makafui Nunekpeku, has appealed to the Tema Traditional Council to support efforts to curb illegal development on Ramsar sites and watercourses, warning that the practice was contributing significantly to flooding in Tema.
Speaking at a ceremony on Monday, July 13, 2026, to present a vehicle and other items to the Tema Traditional Council, Mr Nunekpeku said the recent floods that affected Communities Five, Six and 12 highlighted the urgent need to protect wetlands and drainage channels from encroachment.
He said that TDC management had intensified the demolition of illegal structures on the Ramsar site in Tema in the past and immediately after the June 29 flooding incident.
However, the exercise met resistance from occupants who claimed ownership of the land through documents allegedly issued by traditional authorities.
“We respectfully seek the support of the Traditional Council because these lands are not supposed to be developed,” he said.
Mr Nunekpeku explained that wetlands naturally retain excess rainwater before it drains into the sea or seeps into the ground. However, encroachment on these areas blocks the natural flow of water, increasing the risk of flooding.
As part of the presentation, TDC donated a 16-seater Foton bus with a monthly fuel allocation of GH¢500 for four years to support the Council’s operations.
The company also presented GH¢20,000 towards this year’s Homowo Festival, together with bags of rice, sugar, assorted drinks and bottled water.
Compensation
Receiving the items, the Secretary of the Tema Traditional Council, Nii Armah Somponu II, expressed gratitude to TDC, describing the gesture as unprecedented.
He said the Traditional Council had no reliable source of income because all Tema lands were acquired for the establishment of the township without compensation, forcing the Council to rely on donations to support its activities and preserve its customs.
Nii Armah Somponu II explained that every inch of Tema’s traditional land was acquired for the establishment of the township without compensation, leaving the Traditional Council with no reliable revenue base.
Encroachment
Addressing concerns over encroachment on Ramsar sites and other drainage channels, Nii Somponu II stressed that the scale of the encroachment had become alarming and suggested that forged land documents might also be contributing to the problem
“The magnitude of what we are seeing is shocking.
We believe some people may be using fake documents, and we need to investigate the matter thoroughly,” he said.
Nii Somponu II further noted that the recent flooding exposed weaknesses in Tema’s drainage system and underscored the urgent need for collective action to address illegal developments and improve flood management.
Similar donations were also made to the Kpone and Nungua Traditional Councils, which fall within the Tema Acquisition Area, 63 square miles of land, compulsorily acquired by the government in 1952 from the Traditional Authorities of Tema, Nungua and Kpone and leased to the then TDC for residential communities and industries .
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