A group of determined young residents from Tema took to the premises of the Tema Metropolitan Assembly (TMA) earlier today, staging a vocal demonstration to demand that President John Dramani Mahama appoint a native of Tema as the next Metropolitan Chief Executive (MCE).
Chanting slogans and holding placards with messages like “Tema Belongs to Us,” “We Deserve One of Our Own,” and “No Indigene, No Mayor,” the youth expressed their frustration over what they describe as a long-standing pattern of neglect when it comes to political appointments in their city.
According to the demonstrators, Tema has suffered under the leadership of individuals who, though competent, lack deep-rooted understanding of the community’s history, challenges, and needs. They insisted that the appointment of a non-indigene often results in poor consultation, alienation of traditional leadership, and missed development opportunities tailored for the area.
One of the demonstrators, speaking to the press, noted: “We love our President, and we voted massively for him, but now it’s time for him to remember Tema. We want someone who knows our streets, our people, and our issues—not an outsider who has to be briefed about everything.”
While the protest remained peaceful, it drew the attention of passersby and local traders, some of whom joined the call for an indigene to be considered. Security personnel present ensured order was maintained throughout the demonstration.
As the President prepares to finalize his list of MMDCEs, the demonstrators are hopeful that their voices will be heard and reflected in the appointment process. They believe giving the position to a qualified indigene will strengthen local governance and improve developmental outcomes in Tema.
