Offinso (Ash), April 14, GNA- Non-resident Offinso citizens, mostly those resident in Europe and other foreign countries, have expressed concern about the lack of self-help spirit among the Offinso residents.

They were not happy that the residents and their leaders could not organise any harvest or activity during the Easter festivities to raise funds to finance development programmes in the area.

Mr Kingsley Ofosu-Appiah and Mr Osei Assibey-Bonsu, both Offinso citizens resident in Britain and Germany, who expressed the concern said they and some other non-resident citizens were prepared to donate substantially towards the area's development.

The spokespersons regretted that none of the 22 communities that formed the New Offinso town, which is the district capital of Offinso, could organise an activity to raise funds for development. Mr Ofosu-Appiah said the apathy of some residents of Offinso has greatly affected its progress and development which he said, cannot be allowed to continue.

"Most of the residents solely rely on the government, the district assembly, the Members of Parliament (MPs) and other organisations for the provision of basic social amenities", he said, and described such attitude as unacceptable.

Mr Assibey-Bonsu expressed regret that, "the district capital is engulfed with filth, poor sanitation, deplorable street network, lack of library facilities, poor standard sports and recreational facilities and dilapidated educational infrastructure," and said in spite of these, the people refuse to initiate self-help programmes to address the problems. He advised the youth resident in the area to unite and mobilise the people to initiate self-help programmes to improve their living standard.