Sirigu Natives in Accra Raise Funds to Boost Community Development
As part of the effort to boost development in their community, the Natives of Sirigu Community in the Kassena/Nankana West District of the Upper East Region, in Accra and Tema have organized a Fundraiser to support the construction of an Ambulance Bay and a Fire Services Station in the community.
The commencement of the two projects had become necessary because of the fast expansion of the community, which had brought in its wake issues of access to quality healthcare service and protection of lives and property against fire disasters.
Upon completion, the Regional Health Services and the Regional Fire Services would be expected to facilitate the deployment of an Ambulance and a Fire tender as well as provide personnel to man the Ambulance and the station for the safety of lives and property.
Sirigu is one of the fast-developing communities in the Kassena/Nankana West District with its tourism artifacts operated by the Sirigu Women Organisation of Potters and Arts (SWOPA), a large local market that generates revenue for the government, among others.
Despite its sterling contribution to the national revenue, health facilities in Sirigu remained poor and the road network was also in a deplorable state.
Almost all bridges linking the community from all directions, South, North, East and West have collapsed beyond repairs. The Bridge that linked the Community from the Western side bordering Sirigu and Kandiga had collapsed and it took residents’ communal intervention to fix it partly.
Similarly, a major bridge that links the Sirigu community and Zorko in the Bongo District of the South has also collapsed for over four years without repairs, while about 15km road that links Sirigu to Yua in the East and another about 12km road that links Sirigu to Natugnia to the North are in their worse form of deplorable state, making commuters and motorists inaccessible to health centres and markets.
Due to the absence of the Ambulance coupled with bad roads, the referral of patients from the Sirigu Health Post to the Regional Hospital in Bolgatanga in the emergency situation has been a big problem as several pregnant women have had one complication or the other.
In addition, some teachers and health personnel are reported to have had cause to refuse posting to the community due to the poor roads and lack of basic health facilities.
As a result, the Paramount Chief of Sirigu Traditional Area, His Majesty, Naba Atogumdeeya Roland Akwara III, embarked on resource mobilization to ensure the problems in his traditional area are reduced if not resolved.
Initially, the community mobilizes communal labour to erect part of the Fire Tender station, but funds were insufficient to complete it.
Following that, Natives from Sirigu living in Accra and Tema organized the fundraising event to supplement the homegrown resources to complete the projects.
Speaking as a Special Guest of Honour at the Fund Raising program in Accra, Naba Roland Akwara III called on the government to intervene and fix the bad roads in the community as part of its share of the national cake.
According to him, apart from the revenue mobilization that Sirigu Market generates for the government through the District Assembly, the Tourism potential and the human resources from the community contributing to the national development are not in doubt.
He also appealed to the incumbent Member of Parliament for Chiana/Paga Constituency, Hon Thomas Adda Dalu and other political parties to support the community in its quest for development.
The Member of Parliament for Chiana Paga Constituency, Hon Thomas Adda Dalu donated an amount of GHS11,350.00, in addition to an earlier contribution of GHS10,000.00 toward the projects.
He however expressed his commitment to the development of the area and promised to continue to lobby the government for more development of the constituency.
In an interaction with the media, the Spokesperson for the Fund Raising Organizing Committee, Mr. Jackson Anogya, expressed worry over the numerous health emergency issues and fire incidents recorded in the community, which necessitated the fund raising.
He, therefore, pleaded with the Government, through the Regional and District Health and Fire Services to support the community for the expeditious completion of the projects.
Other dignitaries present at the Fundraising event were the MP for Ayensuano and friend to the Community, Hon Teddy Addi and the Chief of Manyoro, Yara Pio Pe Dr. Pwakweah Atudiwe Atupare Manchil III, who was Chairman for the program.
The Fundraising committee were Augustine Anaaya, Bukari Atubiga, Jackson Anogya Akazoti, Isaac Aseama, Simon Ayamdoor, Moses Alikurugu, Akologo Akuwake, Abdulai Ayamdoor, Raymond Akanwake, John Akabange, George Akanson, Samuel Atongo, and Ayamga Ateglene.
Source: expressnewsghana.com
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