By On April 23, 2025, a wave of excitement rippled through social media as Joy News announced that President John Mahama had nominated Ebi Bright as the new Mayor of Tema. The news, shared widely on platforms like X, was met with enthusiastic support from users like @fanti_boy, who praised Mahama’s decision with a fiery “Mahani stands on business 😂🔥🔥🔥🔥.” But beneath the celebratory emojis lies a deeper story of division and debate in Tema, a city grappling with questions of representation, transparency, and local identity.
I first came across the announcement through the vibrant Joy News graphic that accompanied the post. The image, featuring Ebi Bright’s name in bold alongside Mahama’s portrait, was hard to miss. The date on the graphic—April 19, 2025—marked the official nomination, a decision that seemed to catch many by surprise. As someone who’s been following Ghanaian politics closely, I couldn’t help but dig deeper into what this nomination means for Tema and its residents.
Ebi Bright isn’t a new name in Ghanaian public life. A former actress turned politician, Bright has been vocal about her commitment to advocating for the creative arts industry. In a January 2025 interview with Ghanamma.com, she shared her motivations for entering politics, emphasizing her desire to use her platform to push for change in Ghana’s entertainment sector.
Though she lost her bid to become Member of Parliament for Tema Central, her resilience and passion for public service have kept her in the spotlight. Now, as Mahama’s choice for Mayor of Tema, Bright is stepping into a role that could allow her to make a tangible impact on the city’s development.
But not everyone is celebrating. Just ten days before the nomination was announced, on April 13, 2025, a group of Tema youth took to the streets in protest. According to reports from Adomonline.com, they gathered at the Tema Metropolitan Assembly, burning car tyres and beating drums to voice their frustration. Their demand? That President Mahama appoint a native of Tema as mayor, rather than an outsider like Bright. Dora Sappor, the spokesperson for the protesters, was quoted rejecting Bright’s nomination outright, arguing that the community deserved someone who truly understood their struggles and history.
The youth’s frustration isn’t hard to understand. Tema, a bustling port city, has long been a hub of cultural and economic activity in Ghana. Its residents take pride in their heritage, and many feel that leadership positions should reflect that identity. The rumor that Patience Ankamah Addo, another candidate, had initially been favored for the role only added fuel to the fire. For the protesters, Bright’s nomination felt like a betrayal of their expectations, raising broader questions about how political appointments are made in Ghana.
This isn’t the first time Tema’s youth have made headlines for demanding accountability. In April 2024, the Tema Youth Association called for a national probe into alleged brutality by naval personnel during the Kpelejoo festival, an incident that tragically resulted in two deaths. That event, reported by Citinewsroom.com, highlighted the deep tensions between the community and authorities, a dynamic that seems to persist with the current mayoral controversy.
On the other hand, Bright’s supporters argue that her background and experience make her a strong candidate for the role. President Mahama, who returned to office in January 2025 after previously serving from 2014 to 2017, has positioned himself as a leader focused on progress and innovation. His recent launch of the Feed Ghana initiative on April 12, 2025, signals a commitment to addressing pressing national issues like food security. Nominating Bright could be seen as part of that forward-thinking approach, bringing a fresh perspective to Tema’s governance.
As I reflect on this unfolding story, I can’t help but wonder what Bright’s leadership might mean for Tema. Will she be able to bridge the gap between the city’s youth and the administration, or will her tenure be marked by continued unrest? Ghana’s political landscape has long been shaped by debates over transparency and inclusion—issues that Transparency.org has highlighted in its reports on the country’s governance challenges. With a 2024 Corruption Perceptions Index score of 42, Ghana ranks 80 out of 180 countries, a reminder of the systemic hurdles leaders like Bright will need to overcome.
For now, the nomination has sparked a mix of hope and skepticism in Tema. As Ebi Bright prepares to take on this new role, the city watches closely, waiting to see if she can turn the controversy into an opportunity for unity and progress. One thing is clear: in a city as vibrant and vocal as Tema, the conversation is far from over.
