Accra, Sept. 21, GNA- Madame Laurence Kouassi, Governor of District 9100 of the Rotary Club has described the organisation as one that sends a message of hope and gives others a second opportunity to improve their lives to achieve their dreams.

"We all have one thing in common and that is, Rotary has changed our lives by giving us the ability to create better lives for people. Together we will win the battle over sickness, illiteracy and misery," she said.

Madame Kouassi, who is on a familiarisation visit to Rotary Clubs in Ghana, was speaking in Accra on Tuesday when she was hosted by the Accra Ring Road Central branch of the organisation. She is from the Abidjan Rotary Club in Cote d'Ivoire, which is one of the 14 countries in West Africa making up District 9100. The other countries are Ghana, Togo, Benin, Liberia, Sierra Leone, Gambia, Senegal, Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger, Cape Verde, Guinea and Guinea Bissau.

Madame Kouassi told members of the Accra Ring Road Central Rotary Club, that the foundation had given them the opportunity to place service above self, over the past 100 years with satisfaction and would continue to motivate them for another century to overcome obstacles and to create hope and happiness. She entreated Rotarians in the district to endeavour to pay their yearly contributions to enable the foundation to improve the lives of people.

Mr Isaac Neequaye, President of the Accra Ring Road Central branch, who outlined the club's plans for the year said it hopes to complete projects commenced in previous years so that they could be handed over to beneficiary communities. The projects include the renovation of a block to house vocational equipment it donated to the Teshie Presbyterian JSS in Accra and the extension of electricity to the Nana Wiafe Vocational School at Mpraeso Kwahu in the Eastern Region. He said Rotary club provides an ideal vehicle for community service and encourages those with limited exposure to the foundation to visit, observe, learn and join the club to contribute their skill and expertise. As part of the ceremony, Ms. Afua Sarpong, an investment consultant was inducted into the club.