Akyem Muoso in the Atiwa West District of the Eastern Region came alive with color and celebration as the chief and people gathered for the maiden edition of the annual Yensom Festival.
Led by the Muosohene, Osabarima Dr. Owusu Beyeeman, the event served not only as a cultural showcase but also as a fundraising platform for the construction of an ultra-modern community center. The chief’s 10-year development plan was also formally unveiled during the ceremony.
Speaking at the event, the Atiwa West District Chief Executive, Mr. Johnson Amo, commended the Muosohene, Osabarima Dr. Owusu Beyeeman for his unwavering commitment to the holistic development of the area and asked all residents to support the chief to turn their fortunes around.
He cited the ongoing construction of a new school building being undertaken at Muoso in partnership with Advocates for Community Alternatives (ACA), and NGO and the Assembly as one of the development projects being aided by the chief.
Educational standards
He mentioned the high attrition rate of teachers as one of the major challenges militating against improvement of educational standards in the district, attributing the situation to poor conditions of service and the high cost of rent being charged by landlords, among others.
He called on landlords in the area to reduce their rent to enable teachers and other public service workers to afford and stay in the district to serve them.
Mr. Amo announced that from next year the Assembly will provide financial support to any SHS graduate from the district who will enroll in a College of Education and bond them to serve in their own communities upon completion.
The DCE pledged the assembly’s commitment toward the implementation of the chief’s 10-year development plan and used the occasion to educate the gathering about responsible small-scale mining.
On behalf of the assembly, he presented 20 streetlights and other assorted items, and an undisclosed amount of money to the chief and the people.
For her part, the Member of Parliament for the area, Madam Korkor Asante, told the gathering of her plans to establish ICT labs across various basic schools in the constituency, facilitate the expansion of electricity to some communities, establish maternity sheds, provision of potable water and other development projects.
Among the large crowd that witnessed the colorful occasion was a high-powered delegation from ACA led by its Director of Community-Driven Development (CDD), Nana Ama Nketia-Quaidoo and two Senior Trainers of the NGO, Francis Fernaldinho Manu and George Nafiu Mpoah.
Also in attendance was Dr. George Akuffo-Dampare, a former Inspector-General of Police.
