Tema, June 9, GNA -- The Tema Development Corporation (TDC) is to develop the Tema Meridian Hotel area into a first class modern commercial centre to befit the status of the municipality.
Mr Ebenezer Ayi-Bonte, the Managing Director, told the GNA at Tema on Wednesday that the development envisaged "is in accordance with the original master plan designed for the Tema Township".
Reacting to the refusal of the Tema Used Car Dealers Association to move to their new location outside Tema Township, Mr Ayi-Bonte urged the dealers to rescind their decision.
He urged the operators to move to the 20-acre plot allocated them at Kpone by the end of this month or face the law.
He stressed that compliance to the ultimatum would pave the way for the commencement of the Tema Meridian development project.
Mr Ayi-Bonte indicated that the corporation had constructed a 150 million- cedi cafeteria at the new site as part of the development process of the area.
He stressed, however, that it was the responsibility of the dealers, "who are in business to provide their own security" at the Kpone site
He said arrangements have been made for the dealers to purchase their land outright for a fee of 16,000 US dollars an acre or pay on instalment basis or rent it, adding, "we accept the cedi equivalent of the dollar".
He stressed that the TDC had never allocated the present land being used by the car dealers.
They are squatters, who are not paying any money to the corporation, he added.
He said members of the association had ignored previous warnings to vacate "the area demarcated for a purpose, which is now due for development."
Members of the association stated categorically at a news conference at Tema last week that, while they were willing to quit the Meridian area, they were not ready to move to the Kpone car market.
They, therefore, pleaded with the TDC to allocate a new area within the township for their business.
They described the Kpone area as "too remote for their business".
The members admitted occupying the Meridien area as squatters but they appealed to the TDC to allocate an alternative area in Tema to them.