The Tema Metropolitan Assembly (TMA), is being taken to court for its failure to take action on the influx of metal containers at the frontage of the Prince of Peace Congregation of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana, Tema, in the Greater Accra Region.

Land guards and squatters were reported to have encroached on the frontage of the church property in Community 5, Tema, thereby constructing concrete work and placing metal containers on the space appurtenant to the main building contrary to the building scheme and area layout which reserves that portion of land to facilitate the passage of utility service lines and aesthetic purposes.

Residents and the church are scared that the putting up of the illegal structures could lead to squatters’ community which would pose serious security problems to life and property in the area.

It is against this backdrop that the church decided to drag the Assembly and Tema Development Corporation (TDC) to court for issuing permit to the container owners and looking on unconcerned for the illegality to be carried out.

A petition sent to TMA and TDC, indicates that the church, in the year 2001, acquired a parcel of land with plot number INST/A/252 measuring 0.20 acres for the purpose of building a multi-purpose facility including conference halls, auditorium, among others.

The petition further stated that the church had moved to construct a fence wall and acquired all necessary documentation including a building permit from TMA and was taking steps to commence the project.

However, according to the petition, “Some land guards and squatters have started doing concrete work and placing metal containers on the appurtenant land at our frontage, contrary to the building scheme and area lay-out which reserves that portion of land, usually to facilitate the passage of utility service lines, for landscaping and development of aesthetic purposes.

“If steps are not taken immediately, it would lead to the springing up of temporary structures and squatters community which would pose extreme risk, danger and security problems to life and property in the area and thus affect use and purpose of the church’s property and the general public as a whole.”

The church therefore appealed to the Tema Development Corporation (TDC) and TMA to intervene through their taskforce to remove the illegal structures on the land to avert future problems.

Information available to the Daily Guide alleged that the owners of the containers are hiding behind some politicians to embark on the illegal act.

Some residents observed that “It is better for TMA and TDC to stop the encroachers now than to leave them to do this illegality until the area is turned into a complete slum and the people start creating problems before they come to demolish their structures for the people to agitate.”