Regional News of Friday, 11 April 2003

Source: Chronicle

Gomoa East Constituency Asks for District Status

THE CHIEF of Gomoa Potsin, Nana Tweiku VIII, has appealed to the government to create a district for Gomoa East constituency in the Central region so that a district chief executive (DCE) could be appointed.

Nana Tweiku noted that the vast nature of the Gomoa district, which has Apam as its administrative centre, under the jurisdiction of only one DCE, greatly affects the development of the area.

The situation makes the work of the DCE very difficult that the important areas requiring prior attention are often overlooked.

He emphasised that the lack of a DCE in the area is costing them a lot because it takes a long time to receive response from the district administration anytime they request for a project.

Nana Tweiku made this appeal when he spoke to Chronicle at his residence a Gomoa Potsin last week. He recalled that during the regime of the First Republic there was a DCE at Potsin but for political reasons the district status of the constituency was later withdrawn.

He noted that the underdeveloped nature of the constituency is due to fact that decentralization process has not been properly implemented.

Nana Tweiku said that Gomoa Afranse which is also in the constituency be put under Gomoa West, adding that, the location of the town called for no debate.

Explaining further, the chief said most of the towns within the constituency lack roads. He added that roads that are linking Potsin to Domenase, Buduatta, and Amoanda, as well as Fawomanye and Akrama require to be tarred but they have been neglected.

He however, condemned the practice whereby government hangs around for elections to draw near before undertaking certain projects, saying such practice does not auger well for democratic dispensation in the country.

Nana Tweiku reported that currently most of the youth at Potsin have gone into the production of non-traditional export crops, but pointed financial constraints out as the militating factor. He therefore urged the DCE, Joyce Aidoo, to assist the youth with poverty alleviation funds so as to enhance their outputs.

In another development, Nana told this paper that more personnel are needed for effective operation of the clinic in the town, which he said, has been manned by a nurse who finds it very difficult to withstand the pressure that comes from the people.

He also appealed to the government to assist in re-roofing their JSS building, which was constructed about 50 years ago and is on the verge of collapse.

He stated that the poor nature of the place of convenience was beyond description. He said that the late Acheampong, the MP of the area promised 30 bags of cement for the rehabilitation of the toilet but died two weeks after. In addition, the postal agency in the town is nothing to write home about, as the community could not pay the agent.

The chief promised to team up with his counterpart of Adzetamu, to develop the Ankayin Forest in order to attract tourists to the area.