General News of Saturday, 24 February 2007

Source: Times

Nkroful Rises Against DCE

THE people of Nkroful in the Western Region have vented their anger on the District Chief Executive (DCE) of Nzema East for allegedly diverting a jubilee school project earmarked for the town to Aiyinase.

Airing their disquiet about the turn of events at the chief’s palace on Thursday, they accused the DCE, Joshua Kwadjah Ellimah, of deceiving them.

According to them, they had undertaken communal labour to prepare a site for the school project only to hear that it had been relocated to Aiyinase.

The atmosphere at the palace was charged as the Regional Minister, A. E. Amoah, his deputy, Kwasi Blay and the DCE met with the elders over the issue.

the issue. Most of the youth including women carrying babies shouted angrily and tried to force their way upstairs but they were restrained by police.

One youth shouted: "Yen nsro obiara" meaning, "We are not afraid of anyone," while another blocked the entrance of the palace with a polytank, banged on it and shouted, "Take your jubilee." However, one woman who looked rather indifferent, commented: "Nkroful has no place of convenience and good drinking water."

Later when calm had been restored, the Regional Minister and his entourage met the chiefs and the people and he assured them that the jubilee school would definitely be built at Nkroful saying, "We can’t celebrate the jubilee without Nkroful. We are all sons and daughters of Western Region."

"By March ending, we will begin the project and complete it in August so that in September, the children can go to school."

The Regional Minister said that places of convenience being built at Nkroful will be completed by the end of February.

As part of the anniversary activities, he said, a durbar of chiefs will be held in the town to honour the memory of Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, the first President, who hailed from Nkroful. Touching on the vehicle belonging to Nkroful Health Centre which is said to have been taken to Axim, Mr. Blay said that the Regional Coordinating Council would investigate the matter and resolve it.

"Today you have made history. We know that Nkroful needs development and so you have genuine concerns," the deputy minister told the people.

The DCE said that the agitation at Nkroful arose because of communication gap, adding, "We have not neglected Nkroful."

Speaking to the Times, Mr. Amoah denied that government has neglected the legacies of Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, and the people of Nkroful.

"We have not neglected the people. Every part of the region will make an impact during the Golden Jubilee celebration," Mr. Amoah said.

He said the Regional Coordinating Council had decided to honour the memory of Dr. Nkrumah by naming the Jubilee School to be built at Nkroful after him and all the 13 districts have been asked to build a jubilee school.

In addition, he said a library will be constructed in his honour and his father’s house at Asanta, near Essiam will be renovated.