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02.07.2004 Regional News

Vodza community outlines development vision

02.07.2004 LISTEN
By GNA

Accra, July 2, GNA - A strategic plan aimed at transforming the lives of the Vodza community in the Keta District of the Volta Region to attain a middle-income status by the year 2010 was on Thursday unveiled in Accra.

Vodza Dunenyo Haborbor, a voluntary and non-partisan development organisation, comprising citizens of Vodza residing in Accra and Tema, unveiled the plan dubbed "Vision 2010."

It outlines initiatives to be taken by the organisation to improve the socio-economic conditions of the inhabitants. Priority areas the organisation had listed included the provision of educational facilities; a healthcare centre, extension of electricity to the area and awareness campaigns on the need for good sanitation practices.

It also hopes to train the youth to acquire skills for income generating activities and give assistance to interested individuals to set up micro enterprises.

Vodza, predominantly a fishing community located two kilometres east of Keta with a population of at least 5,000 people had been displaced by sea erosion, which had wiped out about 90 percent of the land.

The town presently lacks social amenities such as healthcare facilities, potable water, electricity and telephone, which had been destroyed earlier in the ravages of the sea. The only basic school in the town also lacks reading materials, desks and teachers, compelling most parents to transfer their children to relatively better schools in Keta.

The situation adversely affected the economic life of the people, drawing serious concerns from local leaders and citizens abroad. However, with a renewed hope, bolstered by the construction of a sea defence wall along the area coast and a subsequent resettlement programme, the people, led by the organisation, had resolved to restore life to the community.

Mrs Bridgett Katsriku, a leading member of the organisation, who unveiled the plan at a well-attended conference, encouraged the members to commit themselves to the development of a modern Vodza to become a place where they could be proud of and to call "our hometown."

"The ravages of the sea and its consequential destruction of Vodza, nearly erased our town from the map of Ghana. Now the time has come for all hands to be on deck to revive it and we must not fail ourselves," said Mrs Katsriku, who is also the Chief Director of the Ministry of Tourism.

Mr Albert Magai Lutterodt, Chairman of the organisation, expressed the hope that the organisation would work towards the attainment of its goals.

"Vodza has got the potential, the businessmen, the intellectuals and all that it takes to build and develop a modern town with all the social amenities." 02 July 04

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