Restore Cape Coast’s glory - Anamuah-Mensah charges citizens
A former Vice-Chancellor of the University of Education Winneba (UEW), Professor Josephus Anamuah-Mensah, has called on indigenes of Cape Coast to rise up and restore the city's glory by capitalising on its educational and tourism potentials.
He has urged the two universities in Cape Coast in particular, the University of Cape Coast and the Cape Coast Technical University to work to help train the needed manpower required to accelerate the metropolis development agenda.
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He was speaking at the inauguration of the Association of Concerned Cape Coast Citizens and Residents (ACCCCAR) inaugurated in Cape Coast last Friday on the theme "Oguaaman rising; Re-awakening the sleeping giants and rebuilding the broken walls."
Prof. Anamuah-Mensah said it was important to recognise the important role of the human resource to the rebuilding of Cape Coast into a vibrant socioeconomic giant and work to train many of its youth to support its development agenda.
Past glory
He noted with worry that the effects of the role the illustrious sons of Cape Coast had played in the political, educational and religious history of the country, as well as the struggles and sacrifices they made to Cape Coast now lay in ruins.
"They sacrificed their lives to protect our lands," he stated adding that these good and commendable works must continue.
Current state
"Our social and public fabric is broken.
The gates to education and employment have been removed. We see the collapse of the fishing industry.
“Even the Fosu lagoon, which used to produce mouth-watering crabs has been engulfed with filth making it a health hazard.
We see a rundown of the environment, we have ceased from being good custodians of the environment to a place of environmental degradation leading to poor environment,” he bemoaned.
Prof. Anamuah-Mensah said there was also a general breakdown of the social system which had increased divorce, child prostitution, sex trade, high teenage pregnancy, other social vices and high unemployment rate.
He further observed that there was disregard for the town’s heritage saying the many sites which could have served as sources of income for development were now in ruins.
Action
Prof. Anamuah-Mensah said it was time for all citizens of Cape Coast to rise and work towards galvanising all human and material resources to accelerate growth and build the "broken walls.”
He urged the institutions to set up skills training centres to support the training of the youth with employable skills to make them economically self-sufficient and enable them to support efforts at development.
The General Secretary of ACCCCAR, Mr George Justice Arthur, said the association sought to bring together public-spirited and committed individuals of diverse background, youth, legal and health professionals, academic public servants and business people for the accelerated growth and development of Cape Coast.
He said ACCCCAR was committed to truly representing the citizens and residents of Cape Coast and to proactively partner the metropolitan assembly, the traditional council and other service institutions to deliver quality living conditions for the people who live and work in Cape Coast and its surrounding communities.
He said the association sought to build a more productive, suitable, empowered and just future for its citizens and residents through community-based outreach activities and projects.
The Chairman of ACCCCAR, Prophet Victor Quarm, said the association was not partisan but one that involved every good-spirited citizen living in Cape Coast for its growth, adding that they would work to ensure it was not hijacked by any political party.
Both the Members of Parliament for Cape Coast North and South, Mrs Barbara Asher Ayisi and Mr Kweku Ricketts Hagan, pledged to support the association.
The Omanhen of Cape Coast, Osabarimba Kwesi Atta II, called for unity and oneness of purpose to move Cape Coast forward.