Residents and community leaders of Ankaase in the Adansi Akrofrom District of the Ashanti Region have appealed to the government and other relevant authorities to urgently provide basic social amenities to the community to accelerate development and improve the living conditions of residents.
The community, according to its leaders, is confronted with a number of pressing challenges, including the absence of a school, electricity, potable water and good roads.
They said the lack of these essential facilities had become a major setback to the socio-economic development of the community and was making life increasingly difficult for residents.
The Odikro of Ankaase, Nana Yaw, who spoke on behalf of the community, said the population of the area was steadily increasing, making the provision of basic infrastructure an urgent necessity.
He said despite the growing population, the community continued to lack facilities that were essential for the wellbeing and development of its residents.
Education.
Nana Yaw identified the absence of a school as one of the most pressing challenges confronting Ankaase.
He said children of school-going age in the community were compelled to travel to neighbouring communities to access basic education.
According to him, the situation placed considerable pressure on both parents and children, particularly families who struggled to meet the cost of transportation and other expenses associated with travelling to distant communities.
He noted that the long distance travelled by schoolchildren could also affect regular school attendance and expose the children to unnecessary difficulties.
The Odikro therefore appealed to the government, the Ghana Education Service and other stakeholders to consider establishing a school in the community.
He said the provision of a school would not only reduce the distance children had to travel but would also encourage school attendance and create a conducive environment for children in Ankaase to pursue their education.
Residents appeal
Some residents and schoolchildren in the community also joined the appeal, urging the government to treat the situation as a matter of urgency.
They said travelling to other communities to access education was becoming increasingly difficult and was affecting the learning experience of children.
The schoolchildren appealed for the establishment of a school within the community, saying such a facility would save them the stress and risks associated with travelling long distances every day.
They expressed the hope that the government and other development partners would listen to their concerns and take immediate steps to address the situation.
No electricity
The community also remains without electricity, a situation the residents said was having a serious impact on their daily activities.
According to the community leaders, the absence of a reliable power supply was hampering socio-economic activities and making life particularly difficult after sunset.
They said businesses and other activities that depended on electricity could not operate effectively, thereby limiting economic opportunities for residents.
The lack of electricity was also affecting education, as schoolchildren were unable to study under favourable conditions at night.
The residents said children were often compelled to rely on alternative sources of lighting, a situation they believed could negatively affect their studies.
They, therefore, appealed to the government and the appropriate agencies to extend electricity to the community.
Potable water
Another major concern raised by the residents was the lack of potable water.
The community leaders said residents had to endure difficulties in accessing safe and reliable water for their domestic needs.
They appealed for the provision of a sustainable water system to reduce the burden on residents and help improve sanitation and public health in the community.
They said access to potable water was a basic necessity and should not be considered a luxury, particularly in a growing community.
Poor roads
The poor condition of roads leading to and within Ankaase was also cited as a major obstacle to development.
Residents said the state of the roads made movement difficult, particularly during periods of heavy rainfall.
They explained that the poor roads affected the movement of people, vehicles and goods while also making it difficult for residents to access essential services in neighbouring communities.
Farmers, according to the residents, were particularly affected because poor road conditions made it difficult to transport farm produce to market centres.
The community leaders therefore appealed to the government and the relevant authorities to construct and improve roads linking Ankaase to neighbouring communities.
Call for urgent intervention
The residents stressed that the challenges confronting Ankaase could undermine its development if urgent measures were not taken.
They said the community had the potential to grow and contribute to the development of the district but needed the necessary infrastructure and basic services to unlock that potential.
Nana Yaw and the residents therefore called on the government, the district assembly, development agencies and other stakeholders to collaborate to address the challenges.
They said the provision of a school, electricity, potable water and good roads would significantly improve the quality of life of residents and create opportunities for socio-economic development.
The residents expressed optimism that their concerns would receive the attention of the authorities and that concrete steps would soon be taken to provide the needed facilities.
They said they were not asking for special treatment but were simply seeking the basic amenities necessary for a decent and productive life.
The community leaders further appealed to the authorities to engage with residents and assess the situation on the ground to determine the most effective interventions required.
They maintained that addressing the challenges would not only benefit the current population of Ankaase but would also support the community’s growth and development in the years ahead.
