The National Security Service is leading the Tema Development Corporation in a special exercise code-named "Operation Halt II", to stop activities of land guards in Tema metropolis.

During the period of operation, the joint Police cum Military team will work to apprehend all those operating as land guards and also put a stop to the illegal development of government land particularly in the Adjei Kojo area and the Ramsar site.

The activities of lands guards and encroachers have perpetuated the trespassing and misuse of government lands in the Tema Acquisition Area, prompting the need for national security intervention.

The TDC in a release issued Friday said: "The major operational challenge that the Corporation faces is the blatant encroachment of lands. Illegal sale of lands by individuals and some traditional authorities in the metropolis have seriously affected the Corporation’s activities.

"Thousands of acres of lands have been lost to encroachers with government losing over 740 acres of land in one community alone. Some of the worst hit areas are AdjeiKojo and its environs, Gulf City, Bethlehem and the Ramser Site around Klagon.

"The illicit sale of lands has been fuelled by land guards whose activities have assumed alarming proportions and who act with unbelievable impunity. These land guards, who are heavily armed adopt a militant posture descending on innocent citizens, who have legitimately acquired their lands and unleash terror on them simply because of their insatiable desire to constantly make monetary gains from property that does not belong to them".

The TDC therefore appealed to the public to cooperate with the National Security Service in this exercise to bring sanity in land development in the metropolis.

TDC was established as a corporate body by L.I 469 of 1965 with the objective to plan, layout and develop the Tema Acquisition Area (TAA). This was subsequently amended in 1989 by a Legislative Instrument; L.I 1468.