Forikrom soon to get electricity

Forikrom (B/A), Aug. 16 GNA - The Chiefs and people of Forikrom in the Techiman Municipality of the Brong Ahafo Region have realized an amount of 17.5 million cedis at a fund-raising harvest in aid of their self-help electrification project.

The project, started in 1990 is estimated to cost about 200 million cedis.

The community has so far spent 135 million cedis towards the project by way of erecting 135 low-tension poles, out of 150 poles needed for the project. Mr James Kwabena Osei, Assembly-member for Forikrom disclosed this at a durbar of the chiefs and people of Forikrom over the weekend. He said the entire community had wired their houses and now waiting for the erection of the 15 remaining poles and the installation of the second transformer.

Mr Addai Simons, Member of Parliament for Techiman South Constituency congratulated the people for their sense of self-help and volunteer spirit in initiating the electrification project and hoped that the community will unite to see the fruition of their labour. Mr Simons assured the people of his readiness to assist them in all their developmental efforts and called on the people to join hands to initiate other projects for the area. He urged them not to abandon their children's education and seek material wealth, since education has become the corner stone for development.

Mr Prince Yaw Donyinah, Municipal Chief Executive for Techiman asked the people not to allow party politics to divide them but work as one people to achieve their goals and aspirations. Mr Donyinah stressed the need for the people to patronize government policies and programmes including the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), which has come to replace the cash-and-carry scheme in health care delivery.

Nana Kwao Adams, Twafohene of the area indicated that the community had also earmarked other projects like Eco-tourism Centre, potable water and drainage for the area to improve the standard of living of the people.

Nana Adams re-emphasised the commitment of the chiefs to focus on education for the socio-economic development of the area. Mr Unas Owusu, Brong Ahafo Regional President of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Mission, who chaired the function, was optimistic that the project would be completed this year, since it is long overdue. Mr Owusu donated 700,000 cedis towards the electrification project, while Sullemana Twi and Mr Ibrahim Ameyaw, both natives of the area jointly donated three concrete poles valued 3 million cedis. Mr Peter Adom, Chairman for Techiman South Constituency of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) donated 500,000 cedis as his personal contribution for the early completion of the project.