CULTURAL NEWS
Monday, September 3, 2007
Cape Coast to be upgraded
· To metropolitan status
By: JOE OKYERE & NEHEMIA OWUSU ACHIAW, Cape Coast.
 THE chiefs and people of Cape Coast at the weekend celebrated their annual Fetu Afahye in Cape Coast with the good news from President J. A Kuffour that the government had decided to upgrade the Cape Coast Municipality into a metropolis.
The upgrading of the municipality implies that the government would provide more resources for the development of the Cape Coast area.
Addressing a well-attended durbar at the Victoria Park to mark the occasion, President Kuffour, who said modalities for the upgrading of the municipality were being worked out, further announced a programme to reconstruct the Kotokuraba Market at an estimated cost of $4 million.
The Fetu Afahye is celebrated by the chiefs and people of Cape Coast to mark the movement of the people from Fetu, a town near Cape Coast, to their present location as part of the efforts to prevent the colonialists from taking over their coastal lands.
The occasion was also attended by Professor John Atta Mills, the flag-bearer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), as well as Mr. Alan Kyeremanten, Papa Owusu Ankomah and Dr. Arthur Kennedy, all flag-bearer aspirants of the New Patriotic Party (NPP).
President Kuffour said the government would also support the University Of Cape Coast (UCC) in its effort to establish a medical school.
The UCC’s programme to begin a medical school this year was stalled when the National Accreditation Board said the university did not have the accreditation to run such a programme.
President Kuffour acknowledged the contribution of the people of Cape Coast to education and their unique history and culture, as well as the tourism potential of the area.
In recognition of the contributions of the people of Cape Coast, the President said, the government had pursued policies and implemented programmes to ensure the development of the area without forgetting other parts of the country.
He mentioned the improvement in the water supply in parts of the Central Region and the construction of the Yamoransa-Kasoa-Mallam road, which, he said, had reduced accidents and the travel time, a situation which had enhanced business in the region.
He asked the people to take advantage of the Capitation Grant, the School Feeding Programme and the new educational reform to ensure that their children obtained quality education.
The President pledged the commitment of the government to the construction of a new stadium in Cape Coast, an area perceived as the birthplace of football in the country.
As part of efforts to solve the current energy problems, the President said as many as 400,000 energy-saving bulbs were being distributed to the people in the Central Region.
Osabarima Kwesi Atta 11, Omanhene of the Oguaa Traditional Area, commended the government for its record at national development, mentioning particularly the reconstruction of the Victoria Park and the Yamoransa-Kasoa-Mallam road.
He was not happy that although football began in Cape Coast, the municipality could not boast of any modern stadium.
Osabarima Atta adviced the people to be very careful with their lives to prevent being infected with the HIV virus.
He announced plans to build a new palace for the paramountcy and adviced the people to pay levies which would be imposed on them to raise funds for the project.
The President, on behalf of the government, pledged a donation of GH¢4000 towards the organization of activities of the festival.
Deserving individuals who had contributed to the development of Cape Coast and other parts of the Central Region were honoured.
The 2008 Africa Cup of Nations cup was paraded at the durbar grounds and later presented to Osabarima Kwesi Atta,
*Source:
Daily Graphic - Monday, September 3, 2007 Page 20 |