Constituency Watch: Tema Central in focus

Tema is known as an industrial hub in Ghana, with the presence of the Tema Port, the largest in the country, and the Tema Oil Refinery (TOR).

The industrial and commercial activities in Tema Central offers a range of job opportunities for residents. The constituency has a mix of residential areas, including housing for industrial workers, middle-class families, and possibly some affluent residents.

The Presiding Member of the Tema Metropolitan Assembly and Assemblyman for Tema Community 8 underscored the issues surrounding their sewer system as their main challenge as well as the poor condition of their inner roads.

“Tema currently is facing a challenge of sewer problem where almost all the sewer plans have been diverted in the gutters. Some argue that because of the over age line but I don’t think that is the cause. The cause is where the sewer is leading to, it was planned in such a way that it has to be dumped into a big septic tank.

“Unfortunately, the big tanks have all been collapsed and so the only way people resort to is connecting to the gutters. Our inner roads are not properly in shape. The principal streets are asphalted but most of our inner roads within the communities need rehabilitation,” he highlighted the major challenges.

Engaging with a petty trader who sells near one of the open drains where sewage from nearby homes flows, she described how they cope with the unsanitary conditions in the area.

“The faecal matter is directed into the gutters through connected openings. With no other choice, we resort to manually sweeping it away using brooms,” said the petty trader.

During a visit to the community’s market, vendors shared their concerns within the market as well as the poor political leadership of the country.

“The Community 8 market lacks electricity, forcing residents to keep lights off. The washroom also needs repairs.”

“The drainage system is poor, causing floods and insects when it rains. Proper leadership could have addressed these problems.”

“The ruling party does little to help our community. We lack basic things like trash bins and have poor washroom facility.”

The Tema Central constituency was created in 2012, carved out of the previous Tema East and Tema West districts. Since its inception, the constituents have exhibited a strong preference for the NPP.

In the inaugural 2012 election, Kofi Brako of the NPP won the parliamentary seat by a significant margin, setting the tone for future elections. This trend continued in 2020, when Yves Hanson-Nortey of the NPP defeated the NDC’s Ebi Bright.

However, the upcoming election will see a new NPP candidate, Charles Forson, challenging Ebi Bright of the NDC once again. This raises questions about whether the NPP can maintain its stronghold on Tema Central, taking into consideration the concerns raised by the voters, or if the race could see a different outcome this time.

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The post Constituency Watch: Tema Central in focus first appeared on 3News.

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