Elmina, July 17, GNA - Dr Paa Kwesi Nduom, the 2008 Parliamentary candidate for the Convention Peoples Party (CPP), on Saturday expressed dismay over the fast rate at which the Elmina Township was deteriorating as a result of insanitary conditions.
He also expressed concern over the deplorable state of the bridge on the Benya Lagoon that leads to the Elmina Castle and urged the Edina Traditional Council to impress upon the authorities to repair it with the appropriate technology as soon as practicable to forestall accidents.
Dr Nduom expressed the sentiments when the Edina Traditional Council led by Nana Kojo Conduah VI, Edinamanhen, honoured him in Elmina in appreciation to his immense contribution to the just ended Edina Bakatue Festival of the People of Elmina and the numerous supports offered to the Council in general.
The First National Bank owned by Dr Nduom, donated GH?5,000 towards the festival and another, GH?1,000 to members of the Traditional Council.
A look at the bridge reveals rusted metal slabs while the sea breeze had also eaten the base as well as the sides, leaving them very weak.
Some residents told the Ghana News Agency (GNA) that they were living in constant fear because of the usage of the bridge and that had also compelled some concerned fishermen, who early this year staged a peaceful demonstration at Elmina, to draw the attention of the authorities concerned to have it repaired.
Dr Nduom called on the Edina Traditional Council to liaise with the Komenda-Edina-Eguafo-Abrem (KEEA) Municipal Assembly to evolve measures to deal with the situation to save the ancient town which has one of the world class monuments, the “Elmina Castle” from any outbreak of diseases.
He described the location of a toilet project being constructed by the KEEA Municipal Assembly as inappropriate and called for its re-siting.
Dr Nduom said as a native of the town, he was interested in its development and noted that he was contributing to a library project. He also announced plans to build a Town Hall for social gatherings in the area and urged the Traditional Council to release land for that project.
He appealed to the people of the town both home and abroad to contribute their quota to its development.