Regional News of Monday, 14 January 2008

Source: Space FM,Sunyani

Nsoatre Community Center Renovated

The Nsoatre Community Centre constructed in 1956 through the efforts of the late Obrempong Hene Akwasi, the then Paramount Chief of Nsoatre and his Traditional Council and the Local Authority has received the first major renovation in 49 years.

The Brong-Ahafo regional minister, Hon Ignatius Baffour Awuah, a native of the town, through the assistance of some well meaning friends and citizens of the region, renovated the center.

According to t he Regional Minister, the awful nature of the edifice was a major concern to him because the place serves as the only social centre for the people of the traditional area. He disclosed that “I was supported financially and materially by some of my friends and other organizations as well as the Local Council members and the people of Nsoatre to make the dream of reviving the Community Centre come through”. He said this at the commissioning of the renovated center.

The commissioning of the renovated Centre coincided with a Nine Lesions and Carols Night service organized by the Nsoatre Local Council of Churches, and was spiced up by Yaw Sarpong and the Asomafo Band who put the gathering on their feet to dance to the good songs from his albums. The Regional Minister used the occasion to call for unity among the people of the area to ensure effective peace and development, that could enhance the country's attainment of a middle income status by the year 2015. After witnessing the kind of unity demonstrated by almost all religious heads, including the Moslem community, Mr. Awuah urged religious bodies to organize joint events to promote unity among them. Mr. Awuah expressed his profound gratitude for the unity that was demonstrated by the people who thronged the centre and prayed that that the spirit of unity would be sustained for the betterment of the country. He called on the youth of Nsoatre not to allow politics to divide them, especially as the country gears towards electioneering period, saying “let us never allow politics to divide us”. According to Mr. Awuah, everybody has the right to belong to a group being political, social or religious, but tolerance should be a hallmark of every organization, in order not to sow seeds of discord among them, that would affect the development of the area. He said it was good to form associations or belong to a particular group to share ideas and fight towards a common goal of success, but it should not be a goal of destruction.

The Regional Minister urged the Traditional Authorities to ensure that Nsoatre enjoy an everlasting peace devoid of any traditional litigations, so that the youth and their children would have a better future. He gave assurance of his support for the development of the area, as he highlighted on some development projects being embarked upon through his efforts in some communities within the traditional area ranging from education, health, sanitation, water and roads. Mr. Awuah said education and health is his major priority for the area, but all could be achieved if the people support him.