Tema: The Tema Metropolitan Assembly (TMA) has convened its first ordinary session to deliberate on critical development priorities, including revenue mobilisation, sanitation, infrastructure, and improved service delivery across the metropolis.
According to Ghana News Agency, the assembly invited key institutions such as the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority, the Electricity Company of Ghana, Tema Region, and the Tema Metro Health Directorate to address concerns over deteriorating roads within the port operational areas, ongoing power outages across the metropolis, and updates on the activities of Mercy Ships.
The session also featured a brief birthday celebration for Madam Ebi Bright, the Tema Metropolitan Chief Executive (MCE), who was honoured by assembly staff following her birthday on May 19, 2026. During her sessional address, Madam Bright expressed gratitude to President John Dramani Mahama for her nomination and thanked assembly members for their support over the past year.
Reflecting on the assembly's state upon her assumption of office, she revealed that as of March 2025, internally generated fund (IGF) collection had only reached 13 per cent of the target, with the District Performance Assessment Tool (DPAT) score at 35 per cent, below the national average. She highlighted that more than 3,000 temporary structures occupied public spaces, with only 95 permits on file and just 19 valid, indicating that 97 per cent of the structures were unauthorised.
Despite these challenges, the MCE stated that the assembly implemented decisive actions, such as introducing a moratorium on container permits, declaring security zones around schools and public institutions, and commencing decongestion exercises along the Republic Road corridor. By December 2025, the IGF collection had improved to 74 per cent of the target, with a 2026 Annual Action Plan comprising 241 programmes approved.
She reported that the administration's approach was guided by honesty, deliberate action, and transparent reporting, resulting in visible improvements like roads under construction, drains being rebuilt, reclaimed public spaces, and strengthened institutional systems and partnerships.
The MCE highlighted that in 2022, the assembly collected GHs26.4 million IGF, representing 98 per cent of the target, while in 2023, collections declined to GHs22.3 million, or 87 per cent, largely due to contractor-related disruptions. However, revenue improved to GHs34 million in 2024, representing 99 per cent of the target. For 2025, the assembly set a target of GHs37.7 million and collected GHs36.64 million, achieving 97 per cent of the target.
In the first quarter of 2026, the assembly collected GHs6.76 million against an annual target of GHs42.97 million, representing 15.74 per cent, compared to 12.3 per cent during the same period in 2025. She attributed part of the shortfall to delays in the rollout of property rate bills following integration with the DLRev platform, with property rates achieving only eight per cent of the target in the first quarter. Licenses performed at 28 per cent, while fees reached 19 per cent.
Regarding the District Assemblies Common Fund (DACF), she disclosed that Tema's allocation for 2025 was GHs28.64 million, of which GHs4.45 million had been released by the end of the year, representing approximately 50 per cent of the allocation. For 2026, the assembly projects to receive about GHs 34.5 million, although no DACF releases had been made as of March 2026.