The Tema Youth Association (TYA) has appealed to the Tema Metropolitan Assembly (TMA) to attract investors and strategic partners to transform the Five Beach enclave into a modern economic hub capable of creating decent jobs for residents.
The association said such a transformation would expand economic activity beyond traditional fishing-related work such as fish drying and net mending, while boosting the overall growth and appeal of Tema.
It also commended the assembly for ongoing efforts to restore the city’s beauty, order and pride through the Tema Facelift Campaign.
In a letter dated August 3, 2026, and signed by its President, Mr Abraham Adjei Tawia, the association praised the assembly’s intervention, particularly the removal of unauthorised structures along the Tema Fishing Harbour beachfront.
The TYA described the exercise as a bold step towards addressing a long-standing problem and creating a cleaner, safer and more organised environment.
The association expressed appreciation for what it called the assembly’s “visionary leadership and commitment to restoring the beauty, order and pride of Tema.”
It pledged its support for initiatives in environmental sanitation, community development and youth empowerment, stressing that collective effort was essential to building a city residents that could proudly call home.
Speaking on the campaign, the Public Relations Officer of the TMA, Mr Frank Asante, said the Tema Facelift Campaign, themed: ‘Organised Spaces, Fair Opportunities to All,’ was aimed at restoring the planned character of the metropolis.
He explained that the exercise was not intended to deprive residents of their livelihoods but to create orderly spaces where businesses could operate in clean, safe and healthy conditions.
Mr Asante underlined that the assembly was seeking to strike a balance between urban development and the economic needs of residents, ensuring that those who depend on public spaces could continue to operate in a more organised manner.
He said the intention was not to take away people’s sources of income, but to ensure that they worked in a structured environment with fair opportunities to conduct their businesses in a safe and hygienic setting.
Furthermore, Mr Asante noted that the removal of structures along the Fishing Harbour beachfront formed part of the enforcement of designated security zones under the broader campaign.
He elaborated that the assembly placed a moratorium on the issuance of temporary permits for structures on July 21, 2025, adding that any structure put up after that date was considered unauthorised.
He said the enforcement drive targeted structures obstructing public spaces, schools, utility installations and other critical infrastructure, citing that similar exercises had been carried out in areas such as Community Four near the Republic School, where artisans operating in public spaces had been relocated.
Mr Asante added that the intervention at the beachfront was also aimed at addressing sanitation and security concerns associated with unregulated activities, while ensuring continued engagement with affected persons to safeguard their livelihoods.
FROM KEN AFEDZI, TEMA
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