General News of Saturday, 11 March 2017

Source: Attah -Effah Badu

Rotary Club of Accra Spintex and TAE to ‘Light UP’ two communities

The Rotary club of Accra Spintex in partnership with the Trans-Atlantic Environmental, Incorporated (TAE), has initiated plans to erect Solar Street Lights in two remote communities; Logba Abayeme and Logba Dufi in the Afadzato District of the Volta Region to boost education and economic activities in the areas.

The two farming communities with a total population of about 600 are not connected to the national electricity grid, partly owing to their inaccessibility, a situation that hinders learning and economic activities at night .

This was revealed when the Rotary club of Accra Spintex, and Trans-Atlantic Environmental Inc, initiators of “Light The World Campaign”, assisted school children and Teachers of Logba Abayeme and Logba Dufi with solar rechargeable lamps and stationery valued at GHS9,000.

The “Light the World Campaign” is aimed at reducing the negative effects of kerosene lanterns on people, promote socio-economic development, and help offset carbon dioxide emissions from kerosene lanterns by replacing these lanterns with solar alternatives.

Speaking at the presentation of the rechargeable lamps and stationery to the beneficiaries, President of the Rotary club of Accra Spintex, Jennifer Delasi Brock expressed that it was her hope the donation will shine light on the communities so that they will receive the needed attention from the government.

She encouraged children in the two communities to look beyond their challenges and study well. In addition, Mrs Brock lauded the contributions of the two communities to the economy of Ghana through farming.

Dr. Kwame Acquaah, a Rotarian from The Rotary Club of Laguna Sunrise California and President of Trans-Atlantic Environmental Inc. also challenged the indigenes to look beyond the light provided through the solar lamps donated and fix their eyes on the source of light eternal, Jesus Christ. He stressed the importance of Education and urged the children to make that their priority.

Located east of the Volta Lake in the mountains of the Ghana–Togo borderland, the two communities lack basic infrastructural amenities like good roads, health posts and potable drinking water.

Logba Abayeme for instance has a dilapidated school structure that has up to class 4, with only one teacher handling all the classes. Only foot paths lead to and connect both communities. They equally depend on streams and springs for their potable water supply.