Botoku (VR), Aug. 12, GNA - Botoku, a farming community in the Kpando District of the Volta Region, was thrown into a state of fanfare as the chiefs and people celebrated the commissioning of a clinic, provided by the Volta River Authority (VRA) Resettlement Trust Fund. The commissioning of the 182 million-cedi health facility, turned into a mini festival as the community of over 5000 people danced to traditional drumming and singing.

The project was part of the VRA multi-million- cedi fund instituted 40 years ago to resettle communities along the Volta Lake that were hit by floods as a result of the construction of the Akosombo Hydro Electric Dam.

Joyful Togbe Atakora VI, Mankrado of Botoku said the clinic was a great relief to citizens in and around Botoku. He said the closest health facility was 15 kilometres away, which made health delivery very difficult.

Togbe Atakora however said the expected compensation for land that was lost through the dam project had still not been paid. He drew the attention of the Government to some key tourist potentials in the community such as the range of hills along the western fringe of the town, which offers beautiful scenery.

The Board Chairman of the Fund, Chief Musa B. Adams, who commissioned the clinic, said it was the aim of the fund to provide potable water to all the resettlement communities by 2007. The Member of Parliament for North Dayi, Sena Afua Dansoa urged the people to cooperate with the nurses and staffs of the clinic to enable them perform their responsibilities.

Ms Dansoa advised the people to maintain the clinic to prolong its lifespan.

In a speech read on his behalf, the Regional Minister, Kofi Dzamesi called on the people to patronise the services of the clinic irrespective of their party affiliations, saying, "sickness knows no party colours."

He cautioned pregnant women against engaging the services of unskilled hands. 12 Aug. 05