Community clinic for Joma

Emmanuel Tawiah Forson Aug - 13 - 2014 , 13:13

A community clinic estimated at GH¢43,000 is to be constructed at Joma, a fishing community near Weija in the Greater Accra Region.

Consequently, the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) is extending power to areas in the community that lacked it.

The gesture is part of measures put in place by the Member of Parliament (MP) for the Amasaman Constituency, Mr Emmanuel Nii Okai Laryea, to help residents with their healthcare needs and bring about improvement in their standard of living.

Additionally, measures are in place to establish a rural bank at Amasaman, with the aim to provide capital for women and the youth in the constituency who are desirous of establishing their own businesses.

Background

In December 2011, an estimated 600 structures were demolished at Joma, rendering about 2,000 residents homeless. The structures included the palace of the late chief of Joma, Nii Ayitey Noyaatse, the community church and a school.

The demolition exercise was carried out following a security report that disclosed that certain structures in the community which had been built close to the Weija Dam posed a threat to the facility and so should be pulled down.

Following that development, power supply to certain areas in the community was disrupted, creating a lot of inconvenience to a number of residents.

Essence of initiative

In a meeting with the chiefs and people of Joma, Mr Laryea said when the project was completed, it would ease pressure on social amenities in the community.

He said by constructing a health centre for the community, the health concerns of the people would be addressed.

“The nearest healthcare facility is located at Oduman and it serves about seven other communities. Oduman is quite far from here and so I believe establishing a health facility here will ease the health challenges faced by inhabitants,” he said. According to the MP, there were many more projects in the pipeline which would be unveiled in due course.

Some of the residents expressed the fear of a future demolition exercise in the community but they were assured by Mr Laryea, who said he had asked the community leaders to appoint representatives who were to join him enter into negotiations with the Ministry of Works and Housing concerning the community’s land boundaries.