Residents Hail MCE Over Development …As Suhum Vocational And Technical Institute Reaches Window Level

Residents in the capital of the Suhum Municipality of the Eastern Region have praised the Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) of the Assembly, Samuel Fleischer Kwabi, over the numerous completed and ongoing developmental projects within his tenure of office.

One project which has become the topic for discussion in the area, despite the numerous developmental projects, is the ongoing construction of a multi-purpose Vocational and Technical Institute (VTI) at Okrase, a suburb of Suhum.

The construction of the facility, which came about due to collaboration between the Assembly and Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc, a United States of America non-profiting group, has become possible through the administration of the MCE.

Significant about the Fraternity is that the first President of the Republic of Ghana, Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, was a member, and this was the first time the Fraternity was making contact with Ghana and Africa as a whole.

It could be recalled that a two-man delegation, made up of the International Executive Director of the group, Darl A. Anderson, and Bro. Charles Ranson, visited the municipality and Ghana for the first time, somewhere last year to support the Assembly with the construction of the facility.

This was after the two parties had agreed on the terms of condition, to help residents in the area, particularly, Junior High School (JHS) leavers, who due to financial difficulties, but not academic, and were not able to continue their education after the Basic Education Certificate Examinations (BECE), get something to do.

To this end, the Assembly acquired 5.2 hectares of land, made up of 25 plots, for the construction of the facility, which includes a two-storey building for administration and classrooms, and two multi-purpose workshops.

The group, on its part, made available an initial amount of $35,000 for commencement of the first phase of the project which is in two phases, with phase one starting with the two multi-purpose workshops at an estimated cost of $150,000 – 200,000.

Speaking to the media, the MCE said even though the area could boast of a huge labour force that could be channeled into effective productivity, leading to an improvement of living standards, lack of employable skills had denied them the opportunity, making life difficult.

To him, when the project is completed, it would go a long way to alleviate the people from their state of poverty, and called on all and sundry to support and ensure that it is completed.

According to him, the area turns out about 5,000 students who sit for the BECE every year, yet many drop out on the way due to financial challenges.

The facility, when completed, would offer free skills training to these individuals within a period of between six and 12 months.

The Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity was founded at the Howard University in Washington, D.C.in January 9, 1914, by three young African-American male students.

The aim of the founders, A. Langston Taylor, Leonard F. Morse, and Charles I. Brown, was to organise a Greek letter fraternity that would truly exemplify the ideals of brotherhood, scholarship, and service.

Today, Phi Beta Sigma has blossomed into an international organisation of leaders. No longer a single entity, members of the Fraternity have been instrumental in the establishment of the Phi Beta Sigma National Foundation, the Phi Beta Sigma Federal Credit Union, and The Sigma Beta Club Foundation.

Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, founded in 1920, with the assistance of Phi Beta Sigma, is the sister organisation of the Fraternity.

Mr. Kwabi expressed profound appreciation to the group for its support to the Assembly.

According to him, a five-member delegation of the group, led by its president, Jimmy Hammack, would be in the country from Sunday May 19 to Thursday May 23, this year, to inspect the progress of the project.

The group, according to the MCE, would take opportunity of the visit to pay a courtesy call on some important government officials during the five days visit to the country.

In a related development, pupils and students of the Suhum Newtown Presby Primary and Junior High schools respectively have heaved a sigh of relief following the construction of a 12-unit classroom storey block.

The first storey of the building, when completed, would have a multi-purpose computer laboratory, staff common room, stores and other facilities.

The construction of the modern classroom block, which is about 60 percent complete, became necessary after the roof of the primary and JHS classroom blocks were ripped off by a strong storm that hit the area some months ago.

Following this, pupils and students occasionally have combined classes in a makeshift classroom, in an effort not to disturb the academic calendar of the children.