Two indigenous groups of Tema, Tema Obuade Wekunukpai (Tema Traditional Clan Heads) and the Tema Youth Association, have appealed to President John Dramani Mahama to appoint natives of Tema as district heads of District Assemblies in the traditional area.
The groups, in separate letters to the Greater Accra Regional Chairman of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), copied to the Ghana News Agency (GNA), stated that an indigenous party member should be appointed for the position of metropolitan, municipal, and district chief executive officers on lands under the Tema paramountcy. "An indigenous party member has a deeper understanding of our culture, traditions, challenges, and aspirations, thus making him/her better equipped to address these issues effectively," the Tema Obuade Wekunukpai stated.
They noted that presently, the Tema Metropolitan Assembly (TMA) was the only district among the lot where natives are recognised and given the position, and therefore appealed for the status quo to be maintained.
The Tema Youth Association stated in its letter that while Ashaiman is entirely Tema land, with Tema West having about 70 percent of the area under the Tema Traditional Council, and Kpone-Katamanso also having indigenous Tema communities such as Zenu, Kubekro, Sasaabi, and Adigon, the natives were often denied such appointments despite the sacrifice of their land, language, and identity for the good of the state.
