Dubious $1m ICT contract by TDC awarded in 2012 and not under NPP

Asaase News can confirm that the allegation of a $1 million IT contract that was allegedly inflated and never performed was negotiated, signed, and sealed in 2012.

The newly appointed Managing Director of the Tema Development Corporation (TDC Ltd) held a staff meeting last week, during which he used the platform to portray inheriting a poorly managed state-owned company. But investigations done by Asaase News suggest otherwise.

The Ghana News Agency (GNA) reported on 5 April 2025 various claims made by the new Managing Director.

Claims of new MD

Mr Courage Kafui Nunekpeko, who took over from his predecessor, Ms. Alice Ofori-Atta, at a recent staff durbar, disclosed that he had invited the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) to investigate the company’s books and previous activities.

He said from his own preliminary investigations he discovered considerable irregularities across various departments, citing, among others, the $1 million IT contract and concerns over some land allocations carried out by the TDC.

Our findings

Asaase News found that the IT contract in question was awarded 13 years ago to IDSI, an Indian company and was Spector to be fully performed within the first term of President John Dramani Mahama in 2013.

But, the new MD gave the false impression that it as malfeasance comitted under the watch of Ms Ofori-Atta whose appointment was from July 2017 to the end of 2024.

However, both senior and junior staff at TDC argue that TDC’s operations under Alice Ofori-Atta were marked by unprecedented financial discipline and recovery. The IT agreement was rather done under the leadership of then MD, Mr Joseph Abbey.

Our checks show that on assuming office, Ms Ofori-Atta inherited a negative cash balance, and mounting debts. Indeed, some of the unserviced loans were cash borrowed to pay salaries of TDC workers.

Land allocations

The new MD also alleged that his predecessor sold off lands assigned to the TDC staff union. However, our checks with union members showed that not to be true. The land now known as Ocean Park, was previously occupied by squatters and subsequently reclaimed through legal means.

The land was then allocated to the National Housing Fund through a formal arrangement ratified by the TDC Board.

The planned development of the land was carried out in partnership with TDC to build about 400 new houses that would commercially be sold for profit.

The new MD, who used to manage a dry cleaning company also alleged that a GH¢45,000.00 bill was charged to the TDC for cleaning curtains in the house of the former MD.

However, checks with the finance department of TDC indicated that in the last 8 years no such bill was sent to TDC or paid for the washing or cleaning of curtains from the MD’s house.

TDC

The TDC Ghana Ltd was established in 1952 by an Act of Parliament with the sole responsibility of planning and developing approximately 63 square miles of public land for various land uses, as well as managing the township created to provide accommodation for those engaged in these economic operations.

TDC was granted a 125-year lease term to manage the Tema Acquisition Area, a designated land area. The Company, since its inception, has undergone numerous experiences involving structural and legislative changes that have cumulatively given it a new lease of life.

Initially, its functions were to plan, lay out, and develop the Tema acquisition area. With the prior approval of the Tema Municipal Assembly, the TDC was also authorized to construct roads and public buildings, prepare and execute housing schemes, develop industrial and commercial sites, provide public utilities such as sewage and street lights, and carry on such activities as are incidental or conductive to the attainment of its objects.

TDC New mandate

In 2017, TDC was converted into a Limited Liability Company with an enhanced mandate to expand its operational and geographical scope beyond the Tema acquisition area. Its new objectives are to carry on the objects of TDC Ghana Ltd as per the TDC Ghana Ltd Instrument. 1965 (L.I. 469) as amended, the TDC Ghana Ltd (Amendment Instrument. 1989 (L.I. 1468)) as stated in (1) and (2) above.

The TDC was also authorized to acquire land, both within and outside Ghana, for real estate development and management, as well as planning, development, and construction of towns and cities within and outside Ghana, and the development and management of commercial and industrial areas.

The company was also authorized to provide consultancy services and partner or collaborate with other real estate developers (both local and international) and agencies for the provision of the above services, investment in real estate concerns, and any other activities incidental to achieving its stated objectives.

Reporting by Wilberforce Asare in Accra

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