Tema is both a traditional and industrial city that harbors the largest port in Ghana. The city has since become the economic hub of Ghana hosting two major oil refineries and hundreds of industries.

The ancient Temamei moved to a place called Dzatabu, known among the people of Torman as the Old Town. That’s where they settled for centuries, currently where the old Meridian Hotel is located or the current Community 3.

They were fishermen and farmers. So, when the fishing season is over, they all migrate to the farms where they grow several farm products. Among the produce were Gourds and Calabash. This has been the source of the name Torman (Tor means Gourd and Man means Town) because the forebearers traded the Gourd on a large scale. This was used for the storage of water, and jewelry, and served other unique purposes. This act of farming and trading of gourds was interchangeably done alongside fishing. These industrial activities were their economic source of livelihood

When Dr Kwame Nkrumah took the reign as president of Ghana, he brought in a British company to construct a harbor for Ghana. By then, Ghana had a smaller harbor already started on 3rd December, 1928 in Takoradi but because they needed a larger one, Tema was the main choice but construction was too close to the people of Torman now adulterated as Tema.

Dr. Nkrumah decided to relocate the early settlers of Torman, but the people resisted. They eventually had to move to the modern-day Tema New Town for the economic good of the entire country, but at the expense of our culture, livelihood, traditional artifacts, and other relics, which could help future generations appreciate their roots.

Unfortunately, all these were done without proper negotiation with the people. So basically, the government used compulsory means to acquire the lands of Tema.