Tema New Town, Dec 31, GNA - Mr Emmanuel Adzei Anang, Member of the Council of State, on Tuesday asked indigenes of Tema to use the golden jubilee anniversary celebration of their re-location from Old Tema to Tema New Town (Manhean), to re-dedicate themselves to the development of the Metropolis.

To this end, he said, the people of Tema should eschew divisive tendencies, and rally solidly behind the Traditional Authority, to accelerate the development of the area.

Mr Anang made the call when he launched the anniversary celebration of the re-settlement of the people of Tema to Manhean some 50 years ago. He urged members of the Tema Traditional Council (TTC) to co-operate with Nii Adjei Kraku the Second, Tema Mantse, to ensure his successful reign.

The Council of State member paid glowing tribute to the forebears of Tema for their sacrifices, dedication and patriotism, and hoped the present generation would emulate their shining example to move the Metropolis forward.

Mr Anang said as the industrial hub of the country, Tema continues to play a meaningful role in the economic development of the nation, and appealed to factories and industries to adopt environmentally-friendly measures that would not pollute the environment. Mr Robert Kempes Papa Nii Ofosuware, Tema Metropolitan Chief Executive (MCE), noted that the commemoration of a significant milestone in the life of a people was relevant to the sustenance of their heritage and culture. He recalled that the agreement to the Tema Re-settlement Project five decades ago, was a very bold and patriotic decision taken by the chiefs and people of the Metropolis.

"It was a great sacrifice to enable Dr Kwame Nkrumah roll out his industrialization agenda."

The MCE paid glowing tribute to the past and present leaders of Tema, as well as their subjects, for their foresight, sacrifices, hard work and patriotism.

He suggested to the TTC to make the celebration of the Tema Resettlement an annual affair to take stock and to re-strategise for the future.

Nii Kraku used the occasion to reiterate the call on parents to help sustain the area's traditional norms and values by inculcating those values in their children.

He recounted the problems that the indigenes went through 50 years ago whilst in Tema Old Town, and hoped the inhabitants would brace themselves up for future challenges to move the Metropolis' development agenda forward. Nii Kraku said activities for the year-long celebration would include lectures and visits to old sites. It would be climaxed with a grand and colourful durbar of the chiefs and people of the area.