Ms. Ebi Bright, the Tema Metropolitan Chief Executive, has pledged to ensure that the Tema Metropolitan Assembly (TMA) uses its mandates to promote traditional activities of Tema, especially the Homowo festival.
Ms. Bright said this when she led some officials of the TMA to present some items to the Tema Traditional Council towards the 2025 Homowo celebrations.
The items presented include sacks of maize, palm-nut fruits, schnapps, alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages, bottles of water, and an undisclosed amount of cash.
She said it was important that the TMA ensure that residents, institutions, and workers in the Tema Metropolis understand the importance of the traditions and cultures of the people of Tema.
“We must deliberately push this consciousness into the larger population; it’s about instituting it. We have already created a desk for our liaison officer for cultural and religious affairs, who is responsible for this, but we need to empower that office to be part of the organisation and advertisement of celebrating our culture,” she added.
She expressed worry that Tema has not been able to export its culture even within the Tema metro area, adding that the Homowo festival must be promoted even beyond the shores of Ghana.
The MCE, however, stated work must be done to change the filth, inadequate infrastructure, and unpleasant sites in the town to attract people to the area to see and enjoy the beautiful Homowo celebration.
She further announced that the TMA has plans to turn the Tema Meridian enclave into a cultural centre to help preserve the heritage of the people.
Nii Amarh Somponu II, Tema Shipi and Stool Secretary, commended the MCE for the initiative, saying that it was unprecedented for any MCE to talk about preserving the culture of the people of Tema.
“Nobody has ever assured us to preserve the Meridian enclave for us, but that is the place our ancestors resided; it is therefore important to preserve our ancestral homes,” he said.
According to him, the multi-ethnic nature of Tema has led to some residents and groups reading ill meanings into the traditions of the natives of Tema; therefore, creating awareness among the people would go a long way to change some of the wrong mindsets.