Anomatoa (B/A), June 25, GNA - The Chiefs and people of Anomatoa, a farming community near Forikrom in the Techiman municipality, have drawn up a three-year development programme estimated at 15 million cedis. The projects envisaged under the programme include the construction of a four-classroom block for the Local Authority Primary School.

Mr James Kwabena Osei, Assemblyman for Forikrom Electoral Area disclosed this at a meeting during which, 2.5-million-cedis cash donated by the Member of Parliament (MP) for Techiman South, Mr Simons Addai was presented to the community. The money formed part of Mr Addai's share of the Common Fund to support the local school project.

Mr Osei said the donation was in response to an appeal made by the community during the MP's political campaign in the 2004 elections. He said, apart from communal labour assistance being offered by the people in the community towards the construction of the project, each male citizen is paying 20,000, while each female is contributing five thousand cedis. Non-resident male citizens are paying 40,000 cedis each and females 10,000 each.

Mr Osei added that, so far seven million cedis realized through voluntary contributions had been spent on the project already roofed, leaving a fence wall and others. The Assemblyman called on parents and guardians to desist from the acquisition of expensive clothes and spending lavishly at funerals and instead, provide their children with needed educational materials. "As parents, you should consider your school-going children as your cocoa farm, which, if well invested in, you could reap the food of your labour in future, Mr Osei urged. He considered the MP's donation as a good beginning, testifying that he had the community at heart and asked the people to reciprocate the gesture by enrolling their children in the school.

Mr Richard Bepeace, a unit committee member of the area cautioned the people to refrain from dodging communal labour and other public activities towards the construction of the school project and that defaulters would be prosecuted in court. The Odikro of the area, Nana Kofi Zinekuu, who received the cash donation, thanked the MP for the gesture.