Tsokome Youth Association has been inaugurated to promote development of the area as well as the welfare of its members.

The association led by one Mr Emmanuel K. Ampofo is to assist members to take care of their wards and children.

Mr Jerry Akwei Thompson, Ga South Municipal Chief Executive commended the youth for coming together to develop their community and advised them to be time conscious in all their endeavours.

He said: “As youth you should not play with your time because the more you waste time, the more you waste your lives because time is money.”

He expressed the hope that the association would be different from others that are formed within the municipality but could not be sustained due to indiscipline.

Mr Thompson advised the youth to use the association productively to develop their well-being through engaging in economic ventures.

He said the days that people use associations for outdoorings and funerals are past and gone because those social events would not improve their lot.

“The money you would be used for merry-making should be saved towards the up keep and education of your children,” he said.

Mr Thompson said the law on Free and Compulsory Universal Education (FCUBE) would be enforced and parents whose children are of school going age and not enrolled would be arrested and prosecuted.

He expressed the need for everyone to pay attention to good sanitation and keep the environment clean to avoid diseases such as cholera.

He announced that next year the Assembly would complete the basic school in the community and through the efforts of the Member of Parliament for Bortianor/Ngleshie Amanfro, Mr Bright Demordzi, a new day community senior high school at Ga Lagma to ease enrollment in the municipality.

Mr Thompson therefore pledged the assembly’s support to ensure continued peace in the municipality.

Mr Demordzie announced that Kokrobite is one of the beneficiaries of the ongoing Rural Enterprise Programming being run by the government to build skills and capacities for people in the rural areas.

He said currently groups and associations are being identified to be trained for the programme and the formation of Tsokome Youth Association is timely.

Mr Demordzie said though some of them are already benefiting from the Microfinance and Small Loans Centre (MASLOC) programme, would recommend the association to be considered on the programme and advised them to endeavour to repay the loans.

“MASLOC is a revolving fund and not a free gift. It is giving out to people to work with, so you must pay back so that others too can benefit,” he said.

He said Tsokome, mainly fishing community is billed to benefit from a national programme aimed at assisting fishing communities to get access to fishing inputs and fish mongering accessories.

The MP also advised them to report their families and friends who would visit them from Ebola stricken countries to health authorities for screening.

Mr Demordzie said the Municipal Assembly and his office had established a special fund for needy but brilliant children in the constituency and urged parents to apply for assistance.

Mr Courage Deffor, Secretary of the Association, appealed to the Municipal Assembly to construct their roads to enhance haulage of goods.

On behalf of the Traditional Authorities at Tsokome, Mr Teddy Asare commended the youth for their initiative and urged them to sustain the association.

He urged them to eschew all forms of social vices and also abhor violence.

“You must develop passion for community work and development, and adopt to change and modernisation. You must also focus on social and economic development and should let discipline be your pillar,” he added.