Ghana to have a third SOS Village

Tema, Feb. 29, GNA -- Plans are far advanced to have a third SOS village that caters for orphans, destitute and abandoned children to be established at Tamale and expected to begin in 2005.

The first is in Tema, which has 124 children and Asiakwa in the Eastern with 80 children, Mr Bruno Kwaku Fugah, Director of SOS Ghana made this known when the President of SOS-Kinderdorf International, Mr Helmut Kutin paid a four-day working visit to the Tema branch of the village on Saturday.

Mr Fugah, who led Mr Kutin on a tour of the village and the SOS-Hermann Gmeiner International College/hostel said when completed the village in the Northern sector would be opened all Ghanaians just as those in Tema and Asiakwa.

He said more houses are being constructed in addition to the present 15 in Tema to take in more of the growing children who need support.

After going round the village and the college hostel, Mr Kutin said he was impressed about the fast development and entreated the management to continue with the zeal.

He said steps were being taken to raise funds to support the villages and also to ensure that the third college takes off on schedule in 2005.

To ensure that the northern sector SOS project takes place without hitches, the Director called for the cooperation and support of the Ghanaian authorities.

He, however, said the SOS welcomes support in any form from the populace towards the construction of the projects and upkeep of the SOS children.

He noted that the happy advantage of the SOS villages is the presence of women known as "mothers" who stay in the houses with the children to give them the motherly touch so that they do not feel isolated and neglected in the communities and urged them to continue with their laudable assistance.

Mrs Margaret Nkrumah, Principal of the SOS International College and Mr Michael Tsagli, Village father of the Tema branch of the village were among the visiting group.