Shama roots for high rise institutional buildings

Majority of participants at a forum on development at Shama in the Western Region have advocated the construction of storey buildings for all state institutions in the district to save land and cost. Contributing to discussions on the Medium Term Development Plan for 2014-2017, the participants explained that land was becoming scare due to the population growth resulting in the expansion of the district. It is, therefore, appropriate that measures are put in place to address the issue before they become overwhelmed by events, they said. In view of this, the Shama District Assembly is collating views from the community members, which would be factored into the preparation of its Medium Term Development Plan for 2014-2017. The participants appealed to the assembly to place education, health, environment, roads and toilet facilities on its priority list as these were most needed in the district. They noted that the inadequacy of these facilities was affecting the progress of the district. Mr Habib Mohammed, District Planning Officer, said the assembly had placed embargo on the construction of new projects until the ongoing ones were completed due to financial constraints. He said the release of government funds was irregular so the assembly was relying on its Internally Generated Funds, which was not adequate for carrying out all the development projects. Mr Mohammed stated that the assembly was preparing the medium Term Development Plan in collaboration with the Friends of the Nation, a Takoradi-based NGO, which focuses on social and environmental issues with support from STAR-Ghana. The Shama Districtis one of the 18 districts in the Western Region. Its capital is Shama. The district is among the new districts and municipalities created in 2008. It was inaugurated on 29 February 2008.