Tongor-Dzemeni to protest lack of social amenities

The 6,000-member Tongor-Dzemeni Community; the economic backbone of the South-Dayi District Assembly with a major market and fishing community- has raised issues with the Assembly over lack of essential social amenities.

In a letter signed by its Chief, Togbe Gyamenamponi I, to the District Commander, Ghana Police Service, in accordance with the Public Order Act, and made available to the Ghana News Agency- catalogued a number of grievances to justify a proposed “peaceful demonstration” to draw attention to their deprivations.

Tongor-Dzemeni has- since the creation of the Volta Lake in the 1960s -been a proverbial marketing centre in the country, and a major and reliable source of revenue; first for the Kpando District Assembly for many years, until it came under the jurisdiction of the South Dayi District, the communique said.

They asserted the frustration of not having a viable public place of convenience for over 35 years.

They also alleged that the authorities of the District Assembly had persistently refused to improve the poor sanitary conditions.

Over the past 15 years, the Assembly had continually collected market tolls and huge sums from the market women on a daily basis, it said.

“For 35 years, the community lacks a scheduled rubbish collection system, and any source of good drinking water,” it said

The fishing community also complained about the irregular supply of supply of pre-mix fuel to power their outboard motors, saying the situation was adversely affecting their fishing operations and activities.

The other market in the District is at Kpeve.