Concerned citizens of Chiraa protest conversion of library to fire station

A group calling itself Concerned citizens of Chiraa in the Sunyani West Municipality of the Bono Region has protested against the decision of the community to convert a public library facility into a fire station.

Their agitation followed a donation of GHC200,000 made by Madam Millicent Yeboah Amankwaa, the Sunyani West Member of Parliament (MP), to the community for the establishment of a fire station in the area.

A statement issued and signed by the conveners of the group and copied to the Ghana News Agency (GNA) in Sunyani said, “We strongly register our protest against the decision of the MP to convert the existing public library into a fire service station.”

The conveners were Mr. Kwasi Korang, Justice Ohene Korang, Miss Beatrice Ofosu, George Adu Gyamfi, Nana Boakye Yiadom, Da Costa Amoah, Asante De-Bright, Gloria Serwaa, and Selina Pomaa, all natives of Chiraa.

It noted that the public library had long served as an essential centre for learning, research, and intellectual development in the community. The statement explained that “Converting this vital educational facility into a fire service station will deprive the youth of Chiraa of one of the few academic resources available to us.

The statement appreciated the importance of the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) and its crucial role in protecting lives and property, but however noted that, “we believe that development should not come at the expense of education.”

It said both safety infrastructure and educational facilities were equally important, and one should not replace the other.

The statement registered the protest of the youth, saying, “The youth of Chiraa express deep indignation over the lack of adequate consultation with community members before making such a significant decision.

“This move undermines our educational advancement and disregards the future of the young generation.”

The statement therefore demanded an immediate halt to the conversion of the public library building and called for proper stakeholder engagement and community consultation, calling for identification of an alternative site for the fire service station that “does not disrupt educational services”.

It also called on the government to invest in improving and expanding the existing library facilities, stressing that education was the foundation of progress.

“Removing the public library weakens the intellectual backbone of our community,” the statement indicated, and urged the appropriate authorities to reconsider the decision in the interest of the youth and the future of the Chiraa community.

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