From Samuel Agbewode
The Kpando-Torkor Landing Beach Committee has embarked on a number of community development projects to help improve the standard of living of the people, as well as address the issue of youth unemployment.
The Landing Beach Committee, which is leading development at Kpando-Torkor, is being described by residents in the area as open and accountable to the community in the sale of premix fuel, as well as the management of sanitary conditions along the Volta Lake.
Speaking in an exclusive interview with The Chronicle at Kpando-Torkor, the Chairman of the Landing Beach Committee, Mr. Tsifodze Daduga, explained that the members were highly committed to ensuring that their activities practically meet some of the development needs of the people, and work closely with all stakeholders in the area.
Mr. Daduga mentioned Mr. Gideon Abotsi , Secretary to the Committee, and Mr. Louis Akorlatse, Organiser, as some of the administrative staff who have been supporting him to ensure an open-door administration. He said the committee’s objective was to effectively manage the proceeds from the sale of premix fuel to fishermen, stressing that probity and accountability were their watch words.
This had made it possible to be accountable to the people at all times, by investing the funds derived in a number of development activities at Kpando-Torkor and some island communities, where the activities of the committee covered.
The Chairman of the Kpando-Torkor Landing Beach Committee continued that bearing in mind the development challenges that faced the people in island communities such as Gabikpo, Adzaboso and Biobio, they were provided with solar lamps to help address their energy problems and make life a little more comfortable for them.
Mr. Daduga disclosed that the health needs of the people was a major priority and for which resources had been mobilised, and 200 people, including women, children and the aged, freely registered under the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS). The Landing Beach Committee also built a community information center at Kpando-Torkor, which had been refurbished with modern equipment and public address systems to keep the people adequately informed about vital information on health, education, and social issues that affect their daily activities in the community.
Mr. Daduga pointed out that the committee used part of the proceeds to extend electricity to parts of the communities, and commended the former Assembly Member for the area, Mr. Ben Amenyo, who was very instrumental in the extension of electricity to the beneficiary communities.
The committee also provided streetlights at Kpando-Torkor, including the market, to improve security in the town, as well as built a 3-unit classroom block for the E.P Basic Schools with a store and sickbay, and influenced the provision of 50 computers for the school. The committee also extended electricity to the school to ensure that the computers could be put to effective use.
Mr. Daduga also disclosed that the committee had started addressing the unemployment situation in the area by sponsoring the youth, numbering 30, to learn various trades such as dressmaking, hairdressing and welding, as a way of eliminating the social problems associated with unemployment.
He revealed further that so far thousands of Ghana cedis had been spent on development projects since 2013. The Headmaster of the E.P Primary and Junior High School, Mr. Prosper Gamor, lauded the development activities of the committee, and explained that the school authorities approached it to assist, a 3-unit classroom with a store and a sickbay was provided.
Mr. Gamor disclosed that the committee helped in securing 50 computers for the school, which, he noted, would go a long way in educating the pupils and students to acquire the relevant skills in ICT.
He assured parents that there were very competent teachers who would teach both the theory and practical aspect of ICT to ensure that upon the completion at the basic level of education, the skills acquired would be put to profitable use.
The Kpando Municipal Chief Executive, Madam Adinyirah, described the Kpando-Torkor Landing Beach Committee as one of the most vibrant organisations in the municipality, because it had over the years given good accounts of the sale of premix fuel.
Madam Adinyirah observed that development ought to be seen as a shared responsibility, because the government alone could not satisfy the people in meeting all their development aspirations.
The Kpando MCE pointed out that the development activities embarked upon by the Kpando-Torkor Landing Beach Committee would definitely complement the Assembly’s efforts at developing the municipality, and urged organised groups and organisations to help in developing the area, with the assurance that the Assembly would continue to play its role to promote development in the area.