New Artificial Limb Clinic for Supomu-Dunkwa.

Shama (W/R) Nov. 15, GNA - An Artificial Limb Centre is to be opened at the Supomu-Dunkwa clinic.

Mr. Philip Kwesi Nkrumah, Shama-Ahanta East Metropolitan Assembly (SAEMA) Chief Executive, announced this when addressing a durbar of chiefs and people of Shama Traditional Area to round-off their one week Nye-Nyi Pra Festival at the weekend.

He said the centre, the first of its kind in the Western Region, would cost about 75,000 pounds sterling.

Mr. Nkrumah also said that the proposed sugar factory to be located at Shama, is in the pipeline and appealed to the chiefs to release land for the project.

The Metropolitan Chief Executive said the Metropolitan Assembly has also decided to put up a new police station and a post office at Shama next year.

He noted that the low standard of education in the district is due to the negligence of parents who prefer to engage their children in petty trading instead of sending them school. Mr. Nkrumah commended the chiefs and people of Shama for maintaining peace and unity in the area and using the festive occasion to discuss their developmental needs.

Madam Sophia Horner-Sam, Deputy Western Regional Minister, denied rumours being peddled in the area that President Kufuor has authorised fishermen to use light for fishing at night.

She said the rumours are unfounded and warned that any fisherman caught using light for fishing would be dealt with according to law. Madam Horner-Sam advised all registered voters to go and vote peacefully in the December 7 2004, elections to ensure that the peaceful atmosphere prevailing in the country is sustained.

She asked them to do away with abusive language when they mount political platforms to campaign for votes.

Madam Horner-Sam said Ghana is one of the political giants in Africa and appealed to all Ghanaians to refrain from any act that could spark off violence.

Mrs. Angelina Baiden-Amissah, Member of Parliament for Shama disclosed that the Shama Health Centre has been upgraded to the status of a polyclinic so there was no need for patients to travel all the way to Sekondi-Takoradi for medical treatment.

She said doctors and nurses bungalows have been completed for their occupation as well as a maternity block.

Mrs. Baiden-Amissah said school projects at Shama, Abuesi, Inchaban, Ituma, Nyankrom and Shama-Junction have been completed.

Other projects undertaken in the area she indicated, include market sheds, roads and bore-holes, adding that the contract awarded for the construction of the Komfoeku-Shama-Junction road has been terminated due to shoddy work.

Mrs. Baiden-Amissah said the Shama Senior Secondary School upgrading project is almost 80 per cent completed, while the Sea Defence Wall is also 60 per cent completed. The dredging of the Shama Bakano drains has started and expected to be completed soon.

The MP disclosed that 2,350 people were granted loans to support their businesses and advised those who have not yet repaid their loans to do so to enable others to benefit.

She said the Lower Pra Rural Bank limited has put up a library for the community to enable students to study hard.

Nana Kweku Binnah III, Omanhene of Shama Traditional Area, thanked the Government for the numerous development projects it has undertaken in the area as well as the peaceful atmosphere, which has prevailed in the area and the country as a whole since it came to power.

He however, regretted that there are only two police personnel manning the police station at Shama and appealed to the Regional Commander to send more police personnel to maintain peace and order.

Mrs. Baiden-Amissah later presented a cow, one million cedis cash, one bottle schnapps and two crates of minerals to the chiefs and people of Shama for the celebration of their Nye-Nyi Pra festival.

Other donors were Regional Coordinating Council, (RCC) two million cedis, Mr. Philip Kwesi Nkrumah Metropolitan Chief Executive, one million cedis, one bottle of schnapps and five crates of minerals, Shama-Ahanta East Metropolitan Assembly (SAEMA) 200 bags of cement, Volta River Authority (VRA), five million cedis, and Lower Pra Rural Bank Limited, five million cedis.

From the durbar ground, the chiefs rode in palanquins through some principal streets amidst drumming and dancing to the Shama Bakano. An appeal for funds in aid of development of the town yielded over 20 million cedis.