The Paramount Chief of Lower Axim Traditional Council in the Nzema East Municipality of the Western Region, Awulea Attibrukusu III has appealed to President Akufo-Addo as matter of urgency to build an ultra-modern Theatre for the Axim Government Hospital to save lives.

Axim government hospital was established in 1925 and currently serves a total population of 75,105 and has a limited bed capacity of 89.

The hospital was next to Effia Nkwanta regional hospital in the 80's and 90's but now counted among the least hospitals in the region due to inadequate infrastructure and equipment to address its operational duties.

Awulae Attibrukusu III made this known on Sunday, September 9, 2018, when he delivered a speech at the Kundum Festival of the Chiefs and people of the Axim traditional area, which was attended by President Akufo-Addo and other government functionaries.

He made it known that the old theatre has been closed down for renovation for nine months now and added that the X-ray machine for the hospital is also not working.

"A typical example is the sudden closure of the Axim Government Hospital theatre for the past Nine (9) months for renovation, whiles the X-Ray machine have not been working for the past two years", he revealed.

He lamented, "As I speak now only one operation can be done at a time at the emergency provided room. If two operations need to be done no matter the risk involved one should be transferred to Sekondi.

In one of such occasion, the ambulance collided with a car killing the patient, the sister of the patient and the nurse. This incident could have been prevented if we had a good theatre with the needed equipment".

He opined that the renovation of the theatre is being done by the Lower and Upper Traditional Councils and therefore appealed to President Akufo-Addo led administration to help to complete it and also build a new one for the hospital to save lives.

"Mr. President, let me state categorically that the renovation of the theatre is solely spearheaded and supervised by Nanamoo of Axim Traditional Councils and supported by Rigworld Engineering Services Ltd and will appeal to your government to help complete the Theatre which has reached its lengthen stage to continue saving lives in the short term and a new and modern one to be constructed".

He used the occasion to commend the Nkosuohene of Lower Axim Traditional Council, Nana Osei Nkwantabisa and his Italian friends for their immense support given to the hospital by donating hospital beds to the facility and also renovated the canopy walkway for it.

"May I also thank Nana Osei Nkwantabisa, Nkosuohene and his Italian friends led by Dr. Nii Amaa Ollennu, Vice President for the Italian Business Association (IBAG) and Mr. Enrico Biasutti of Futuro Per Tutti and Italian Embassy for their numerous support to the hospital by donating beds, and other medical equipment as well as renovating the canopy walkway", said.

On education, Awulea Attibrukusu III appealed to President Akufo-Addo and his government to provide the only girls secondary school, Axim Girls Senior High School in the municipality with a dinning hall, Assembly Hall, a science laboratory and an administration block to educate more girls to become good citizens in the nation.

"Mr. President, touching on education, the Axim Girls is the only Girls Senior High School in the Nzemaland, and is heavily under resourced. Thanks to our Omanhene Awulea Attibrukusu III who established the school, singled and paid teacher's salaries for five years until it was absolved by the state.

He added "We are grateful to G.N.P.C has provided eighteen classrooms, two-computer laboratory and one master common room. Tullow Oil Company has constructed 420-capacity dormitory for the school all through the effort of Awulea Attibrukusu III".

"The school is currently in need of a dining hall, Assembly Hall, a Science Laboratory and an Administration block. We will therefore be grateful if your government will consider giving a face-lift to the only Girls school in the Nzema land to be able to educate more girls to become good citizens in the nation.

Awulea also used the occasion to appeal to the minister for education to upgrade the only vocational training institute at Axim in the municipality to accommodate more students.

He said, "It is being rumored that the government is planning to establish a Teacher Training College in an unknown location in the Nzemaland and will appeal to Mr. President to consider the Nzema East Municipality since Nanamoo are very ready to release land for this project. This will help to solve the problem of pupil teachers been more than trained teachers in the Municipality".

He also thanked President Akufo-Addo for the introduction and implementation of the Free SHS system to help parents and guardians across the country especially those in the rural areas.

On his contribution towards education, Awulea Attibrukusu III has given scholarship packages to four students to further their education at the tertiary levels in the country and he used the occasion to outdoor them.

He thanked President Akufo-Addo for honouring their invitation to celebrate their Kundum festival as a first sitting President.

This year's celebration was on the theme, "Promoting Security in our Communities; the role of society and traditional authorities" which sought to focus on the security concerns in their society as well as addressing the basic needs of their security agencies.