Traditional authority and spiritual forces have taken centre stage in Tema, as a group of priestesses from Tema Newtown staged a dramatic spiritual protest against the rumoured appointment of Madam Ebi Bright as Metropolitan Chief Executive (MCE) of the Tema Metropolitan Assembly.
In a rare public ritual at the forecourt of the Assembly, the priestesses—clad in red and chanting traditional war songs—performed sacred rites, including the slaughtering of a sheep and pouring of libation. The spiritual protest, they claimed, was to ward off the “imposition” of a non-indigene on Tema.
This bold move signals rising tension in the port city, as traditional custodians of the land assert their stake in political appointments.
The speculation around Ebi Bright, a known political figure and former Parliamentary Candidate for Tema Central, has sparked controversy among residents who argue that the MCE position must be held by someone native to Tema.
A spokesperson for the protesting group warned that Tema will no longer sit quietly while decisions affecting its people are made without local consultation. “We’ve tolerated appointments in Ashaiman without interference. But Tema is not Ashaiman. Here, we demand one of our own,” she said.
The priestesses vowed continued spiritual resistance until an indigene is appointed to the position, deepening the standoff between tradition and political authority.
With no official announcement yet from the presidency, the protest has cast a spotlight on local governance tensions and the potent role of tradition in shaping modern politics.
