Diaspora News of Tuesday, 30 December 2014

Source: John Frimpong

Agogo Worldwide Association Donates Towards Street Lights

On Monday December 15, 2014, the Agogo Worldwide Association (AWA) which is made up of chapters from London, New York, Atlantic City, Worcester and Washington metro area, donated an amount of GHc 8,000 towards the maintenance of street lights in Agogo, Ashanti Akim. This was in response to an appeal made by the MP of Ashanti Akim North constituency, Honorable Kwadwo Baah Agyemang. The announcement was made in the office of the District Chief Executive at the District Assembly at Agogo. Present at the gathering included the DCE, Daniel Osei, Acting Coordinating Director, Presiding Member (PM) of the Assembly, Owusu Amoako, Kontihene of Agogo Traditional Council, Nana Kwame Nti, members of Agogo Project Implementation Committee (APIC), President of AWA, Sam Anyang-Kusi and a good number of Assemblymen and staff of the Assembly.

A joint implementation committee chaired by the PM to oversee the smooth execution of the work was established. Members of the committee included the Chief Engineer and Director of Works at the Assembly, all Assemblymen in Agogo Township, Nana Kontihene and the APIC members. They were charged with the responsibility of ensuring the successful completion of the work before Christmas and render proper accounts of the funds.
Presenting the donation, Sam Anyang-Kusi, on behalf of AWA indicated the preparedness of the Association to support development projects in the town through collaboration with the District Assembly and other relevant stakeholders. He, however, minced no words in expressing his disappointment of the apparent ineffectiveness of the District Assembly since the new district was created. Not a single project has been undertaken so far. He mentioned the continued deterioration of the streets, filth in the markets and gutters, non functioning street lights with security implications and others. He reminded the Assembly of their mandate in providing the much needed infrastructure and delivery of services to the community and that the people deserve better. He called for better and effective collaboration and coordination between the MP’s office and that of the Assembly to bring synergies and cohesiveness of efforts.
He went on to enumerate a number of contributions made by AWA in the past which included provision of street signs worth about $10,000, $6,000 cash donation towards street maintenance, $5,000 towards the Presbyterian University at Agogo and variety of items and medical equipment in support of the Agogo Presbyterian hospital.
The DCE, on behalf of the Assembly, expressed his profound gratitude to AWA for the continued support being provided to the town over the years to compliment the efforts of the Assembly. He further requested AWA to support his efforts to improve standards of education in the district.
The MP, on his part, expressed his appreciation to AWA for responding favorably to his appeal. He offered to provide additional funding to supplement the donation from AWA. He announced the resurfacing of the road through Bebome to Mankarah to begin this week.