They emphasize the hospital’s critical role in providing emergency healthcare, particularly for trauma and accident victims along the Accra-Kumasi Highway.

The project, which commenced in January 2024 and was assigned to three construction firms, has since been abandoned, leaving residents frustrated. Many remain hopeful that former President John Dramani Mahama will prioritize its completion.

“We have to travel long distances to access healthcare. At night, it is even harder to find a vehicle. We plead with the government to bring the contractors back to complete the hospital,” said Lydia Owusuwaa, a concerned resident.

Another resident added, “If this hospital is completed, all neighbouring communities will benefit. We believe President Mahama will ensure its completion.”

Doris Addo, who lost her aunt due to delayed medical care, lamented that the hospital could have saved her life.

“If the hospital had been operational, she might have survived. We pray something is done about it,” she said.

Given its location on one of the country’s most accident-prone highways, residents stress that the hospital’s completion is crucial for saving lives.

“Accident victims often need urgent care, but they have to be transported far away. Completing this hospital will be a lifesaver.”

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With Fanteakwa South District as the starting point, the NGO would empower communities in the area through technical and vocational support, charity, livelihood empowerment programs, and support in the area of infrastructural development.

The launch was held over the weekend under the theme Empowering Rural Communities/Individuals with livelihood support, the role of the entire citizenry.

It brought together government officials and stakeholders in the Fanteakwa South District, including the Member of Parliament for Fanteakwa South, Kofi Okyere-Agyekum, the District Chief Executive, Ernest Ofosu and the District Directors of Education, Social Welfare and Health.

The chairman was Osaberima Otu Darko IV, Chief of Osino and patron of the NGO.

Also present was the Queen Mother of Akyem Juaso, Nana Obenewaa Asiedua II.

Speaking at the launch, the founder of REAP, Mr Samuel Ohene Nyantakyi, said the NGO is duly registered with a mandate of empowering rural communities with technical and vocational support, charity, livelihood empowerment programs and support in the area of infrastructural development to augment the government’s effort in development.

“The government will always do its part but needs private individuals and entities as an engine of support and growth. This is why the theme was carefully chosen to re-echo to the general public that development starts with you and me,” he said.

Mr Nyantakyi announced that the NGO in a few years to come, aims to construct a vocational training and resource Centre in the district where it will house its empowerment activities.

Mr Nyantakyi thanked the NGO’s partners including Tiwajo Industries, which is into cosmetics and soap making, and the Asustem Robotics Academy, which offers a hands-on inquiry-based approach to exploring STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) subjects through projects featuring robotics, IT and engineering, ready to occupy the resource centre when fully complete to impact the kids and Youth in the District with these livelihood skills.

He also called for more partnerships from stakeholders, including the government, investors, and the International community, to support REAP to achieving its objectives.

Launching the Project, the MP, Kofi Okyere-Agyekum commended the Founder for his dedication and commitment to see development in Fanteakwa South.

“Such initiatives are driven by God. Personally, I did same during my Youthful days and in the 90s gave scholarships to many individuals in this District so I see this project as a good prospect for the future.

Mr Okyere-Agyekum observed that most NGOs target more on the Northern part of the country to the disadvantage of the South as such urged them to consider bringing more projects to the South to spread development throughout the country.

“This District has seen a lot of development in terms of education, health Infrastructure and in fact Security under the Akuffo Addo Government. Approval has been given for a District Police Command and more Police stations across the communities in this District including Akyem Juaso,” he announced.

He added that Government alone cannot be left to develop hence all stakeholders including NGOs need to join hands to make Ghana a better place.

On his part, the District Chief Executive, of Fanteakwa South, Ernest Ofosu, said his office was grateful to add another NGO to the already existing NGOs in the District and was optimistic this will spur development in Fanteakwa South.

The government he said is already doing its part and as the larger population are the Youth, he was happy to inform that the One District One factory (1D1F) initiative, the National Identification Authority (NIA), the National Ambulance, TVET and YouStart initiative have created massive employment for the youth in the country.

Chairman and Patron for the NGO, Osaberima Otu Darko IV, Chief of Osino in his remarks emphasised that as traditional leaders any initiative to alleviate poverty from its people and develop its area was welcomed as such his outfit will give REAP all the necessary support to operate.

Together in a goodwill message the Fanteakwa South District Director of Education, Mr Richard Akosah Addo, the Social Welfare Director, Daniel Ayariga and the Director of Health, Margaret Nyarko all pledged their support to REAP to enable it to implement its project successfully in the District.

The irate residents accused the mining company of deteriorating the road which was already in bad condition making it unmotorable, especially whenever it rains.

According to the angry residents, dozens of heavily loaded trucks of BSD mining company cart gold dust daily from their mining site at Akyem Saamang area to their main mining site at Akyem Asiakwa near Kyebi to extract the gold.

This has led to a serious negative impact on the road in the area, however, the company has failed to rehabilitate the road.

Kwame George, the leader of the angry residents, told Starr News about 200 trucks of BSD mining have been plying the road every day from morning to evening.

“They have destroyed our road and transport the gold dust from the mining site here to Akyem Asiakwa. They don’t care even rehabilitating the road for us all they want is their gold so we have blocked the road this morning. About 15 trucks have been locked this morning,” he said.

He said management of the Company arrived in the community to assure that they will bring machinery to grade the road and rehabilitate the most deplorable sections.