The Yawkoko community in the Ayensuano District of the Eastern Region, has appealed to government for more social amenities to help improve upon their lot.

Mr. Patrick Ofori, former assembly member, made the appeal at a meeting of opinion leaders and elders of the community, to discuss, among other things, the much needed community projects that would help enhance their living conditions and the welfare of the people.

He conducted journalists round to inspect the Presbyterian Basic and Junior High School (JHS), and the road joining the main Suhum - Nsawam road.

Mr. Ofori, who is also the chairman of the Parent Teacher Association here, stated that the people needed schools, health post, public toilet, boreholes, market and lorry park which had eluded the community for decades.

According to him, the JHS block was part of a primary school building, initiated by the community sometime in 1960, and that the old block had developed cracks, while windows were hanging and part of the roof ripped off, adding that the children in the kindergarten were learning in the Presbyterian chapel.

He said: because the block was built by the poor community, there were no iron rods, if has also not been painted and plastered, leaving in its wake, serious cracks posing death traps.

The PTA chairman was not happy that for no apparent reason, people had started defecating in the classrooms, as well as along the roadside and nearby streams, which he said, could result in the outbreak of cholera and other communicable diseases and therefore, condemned the perpetrators for their actions.

Mr. Ofori said formerly the 1,000-inhabitant community was under the Suhum Kraboa Coaltar District, which could not assist them in their quest for development projects, while M.Ps. also went there to campaign with flimsy promises, but said we now belong to Ayensuano district which was carved out of Suhum, so we call for more social amenities.

He said the three-shed-market situated in water way, coupled with the undulating slippery and dusty road did not augur well for the people.

Mr. Ampadu Yaw Asiedu, headteacher of the school, urged parents to complement the efforts of teachers to promote teaching and learning in the school, adding, that in spite of the progress made by the school, it was confronted with challenges which demanded urgent attention, to help address the schools peculiar training needs and to respond appropriately to managerial challenges.

The headteacher was emphatic that in poor communities, parents have legitimate concerns about sub-standard schools, sub-standard supply of human and financial resources, poor examination and lacking services, but said the teaching staff and the PTA were doing everything possible to arrest these challenges.

Mr. Ofori and Mr. Asiedu appealed to the Ministry of Education and the Ayensuano District Assembly to assist Yawkoko community with more educational and social amenities to improve their lot.

GNA