Shama honours citizens for contributing towards dev’t

Shama, a fishing community in the Western Region, has formed a Business Forum to honour 21 citizens of the area, for their immense contributions towards the development of the community.

They included Professor Emeritus Nana Araba Apt, Nana Oye Lithur, Minister of Gender, Children and Social Protection, and Nana Kwamina Dekye the first, “Kwanyerehene’ of Shama, who is also the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Lower Prah Bank.

Nana Kobina Nketisia, Omanhene of Essikado was also rewarded for supporting the growth of Shama in various ways, as well as some students who have excelled in their various courses.

Their contributions had featured in education, health, infrastructure, as well as the development of human resource base.

Addressing the first ever programme at Shama, Nana Oye Lithur noted that nations had developed through the formation of partnership by tapping each other’s’ expertise, to execute their goals to support their governments.

She said while nations had used unity to become powerful and prosperous, others had become weak for want of unity.

She, therefore, commended them for taking the initiative to support themselves and urged the citizens to remain steadfast and united, in order to achieve their set goals.

“The ability to come together to partner others for the benefit of people is a great asset to any community,” she said, and not necessarily coming from individual resources”.

Speaking on the theme: “Together We Build, ” the Gender Minister who hails from Shama, commended the awardees for leaving indelible footprints behind..

She said while government played its part to develop the nation, it recognized communities which undertook development projects, to complement its efforts.

She, therefore, entreated other communities to emulate Shama for accelerated development in the country.

Nana Dekye, the President of the Shama Business Forum (SBF), said he spearheaded the formation of the forum because of the deteriorating nature of the infrastructural amenities, and the slow pace of development in the area.

He encouraged the citizens to contribute towards developing Shama that has produced eminent citizens so as to reverse the community to its past glory.

Nana Kobina Nketsia who was the chairman for the occasion, urged Ghanaians to support communities or individuals whose contributions impacted positively on society, rather than to criticize them as it was demoralizing.