Appolonia, Oct 30, GNA- The farming community of Appolonia in the Kpone-Katamanso Constituency, on Friday received two water storage tanks and medical supplies.

Connect International, a non-governmental organization on social development based in San Diego, United States of America, donated the items to improve upon the living standards of the residents. The water tanks are to serve a local refurbished health centre and the Appolonia Methodist Primary School. The medical items included blood pressure apparatus, assorted drugs, mosquito nets, surgical gloves, medicated spectacles, baby wipes among other items.

At a mini-durbar in honour of a 12-member delegation from Connect International at Appolonia, Mr. Robert Kempes Ofosuware, Tema Metropolitan Chief Executive (MCE), thanked the organization for the support. Mr. Ofosuware hoped the gesture would help strengthen the existing relationship between Tema and San Diego which started in the 1970s. He indicated that the need to build partnerships with the private sector and other relevant bodies could not be over-emphasized, since government alone could not provide all the needed facilities. The MCE charged the community to ensure the regular maintenance of the items to enable them to derive maximum benefits. Madam Marnyce Mackell, President of Connect International, said the NGO worked with African cities and built sister-city relationships with them to help develop some of their communities. Madam Mackell said in addition to the items, the organization was helping students of the Chemu Senior High School in Tema to create a "unity and peace wall" at the Tema Community Centre. She noted that the wall, designed with broken wall tiles, was their tourism gift to Tema, adding that it was the first public art work made for the metropolis.

She promised to promote good health in the community her organization would periodically present more medical items to the health centre. Nii Tei Adumuah, the second, Appolonia Mantse, pleaded with the Tema Metropolitan Assembly to construct a local market to save residents from travelling all the way to the Ashaiman market, to sell their produce. Appolonia which has about 3,000 inhabitants, lacks electricity, good drinking water, a second cycle school, quality health care among others.