Assembly Member Appeals for Resident Support in Tema Beautification Initiative

The Assembly Member for the Padmore Area in the Tema Metropolis, Charles Amos has appealed to residents to cooperate with the Tema Metropolitan Chief Executive (MCE), Ebi Bright, on her quest to beautify the area. According to him, residents must allow the TMA under the leadership of the MCE to carry out their duties without obstruction. The appeal follows the demolition of unauthorised structures within the metropolis, an exercise that has generated strong emotions among affected residents. Mr Amos said the demolition exercise was part of a broader effort by the Tema Metropolitan Assembly to restore order, improve sanitation, and ensure safety within the city. He explained that residents had been duly informed and warned several times to remove structures that had been erected without approval on public lands, waterways and walkways, adding that despite these warnings, many occupants failed to act, leaving the assembly with no option but to enforce the law. The MCE had begun a firm campaign against illegal developments, using heavy machinery, including excavators, to clear unauthorised structures. The Assembly member emphasised that the current MCE was resolute and consistent in her decisions and cautioned the residents to listen to instructions and comply with assembly directives. He urged residents to see the exercise not as an act of punishment but as a necessary step to protect the collective interest of the metropolis, explaining that illegal structures often blocked drainage systems, contributing to flooding, and posed risks to both lives and property, especially during the rainy seasons. He said allowing such developments to remain, undermined long-term planning and sustainable development in Tema. Meanwhile, at the demolition site at Community One Site One, several residents expressed anger and disappointment as their structures were pulled down. Some of the affected residents said they depended on the demolished structures for their livelihoods and felt the exercise was harsh, while others claimed they had not been given enough time to relocate or find alternatives. The Assembly member appealed to the residents to come on board and work together to build a safer, cleaner, and more organised city for present and future generations.