Tema, the dying tourism attraction

Tema, the administrative capital of the Metropolis is a coastal city some 25 kilometers East of Accra with  unique tourist attractions which have been abandoned  and left untapped.

 When it was established, the Tema township was a tourist attraction considering its modern infrastructure,  beautiful  planning and unique layout .

Having travelled over 60 years ,Tema has lost that glory and looks like any ordinary township.

However  there are some areas that  could be unravelled to expose some potentials in the area of tourism.

These are the Meridian Rock and its longitudinal crossing through Tema, a Lagoon grove between Tema Manhean and Kpone and also the beach resorts.

The uniqueness of  one of the  attractions of Tema is where the ‘Greenwich Meridian’(longitude 00)  passes through the township,  from a point in the Gulf of Guinea crossing at the  Meridian Presbyterian Church in Community One and  at a point near Katamanso beyond Ashaiman.it fades out.

What makes it more interesting is the ‘Meridian Rock which is a proof of the existence of the meridian line which is located some 200 nautical miles off the Gulf of Guinea near the Tema harbour to show the longitudinal line crossing into the city of Tema

Based on this geographical feature, some foreign countries which also fall into the same geographical category entered into a sister relation with Tema  Assembly but report on  feasibility studies on tourism development have remained on the shelves. 

Another area for tourism is a grove over the Gao lagoon which flows between Tema Manhean and Kpone in a serene environment.

The area serves as a tourist attraction with its natural setting but has become a place where raw effluent from the surrounding areas is discharged.

The road linking the grove through Bankuman a suburb of Tema Manhean is however being constructed by the Tema Metropolitan Assembly to make it accessible for people in the area.

Information gathered indicates that in 2000, some investors came to Ghana with the view to explore the lagoon grove  and develop it on equity basis to generate revenue for the Tema Metropolitan Assembly but this did not yield positive results.

A visit to the site made it purposeful for the Game and Wild Life  Department to preserve the eco system  for migrant birds .

There is a Ramseyer  site also on the Sakumono lagoon bed which no more attracts migrant birds because it no more presents any attraction.

Revamping  of such water sites need to be taken seriously for both humans and migrants birds to be attracted to them.

 At the Sakumon beach, reclaimation of land as a result of erosion at the shores is not encouraging as the ravaging waves of the sea continue to wash sand along the shores.

It  is sad to see private individuals invading the shores with permanent structures which show clearly that activities of  the intruders is disturbing the environment along the shore.

Some of the structures are not fitting to be sited along the shores as they rather spoil the beauty of the beach.

The Daily Graphic on a visit to the beach saw structures, some with concrete  foundations and wooden ones  used for entertainment spots and some believed to be hotels operating close to the beach while new ones continue to spring up.

Fishermen who performed their vocation of fishing and dragging of net have been shifted farther and gradually the entertainment structures are overtaking the beach stretch.

Mr Frank Asante, the Public Relations Officer of the Tema Metropolitan Assembly (TMA) , noted that the Assembly is losing revenue because it has not regularised the operations of the people who run the entertainment spots .

He said the Assembly had plans to revisit its tourism projects including the beaches to preserve the environment.

Mr Asante said the usual revenue collected for development projects was not adequate and will have to look elsewhere including the tourism aspects to make some revenue .

He said the assembly had a proposal from an investor to build a structure to link the Meridian Rock to make it an attraction for tourists to generate some revenue for the assembly.

Mr Asante also targeted the lagoon grove and the Sakumono coastline which, he said, was an ideal place  for relaxation in a free airy environment.

He condemned the present situation when people have erected structures for private business pointing out that the Works Committee of the Assembly has been tasked to take action against those who have contravened the laws and have erected unapproved structures at their own discretion.

Mr Asante said the Assembly under the administration of the Metropolitan Chief Executive , Mr Robert Kmepes Ofosuware has started a campaign to restore  the past glory of Tema as it was built when the government decided to develop a deep seaport in 1952.

He said the brain behind the establishment of Tema  must be appreciated and therefore the ssembly has set out to immortalize Dr Kwame Nkrumah  by initiating a Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park in Tema near the Tema Development Corporation which was established the same time to cater for the development of the town .

Mr Asante said very soon the Assembly will start the tourism project to help restore the past glory of Tema.

Story by Rose Hayford Darko