The Chief Executive of the Akrofuom District in the Ashanti Region, Dr Maurice Jonas Woode, has urged citizens of Akrofuom living in the United Kingdom and Ireland to take advantage of the numerous opportunities Akrofuom presents and invest in the district.
Speaking as a special guest at the official launch of the UK and Ireland branch of the Akrofuom Citizens Association in London, the DCE said the Akrofuom District has received its fair share of developmental projects since he became the DCE hence the district is now opened for investment.
Touching on the plethora of development the district has witnessed in the area of education, commerce, health, roads, and telecommunication, Dr Woode assured the natives of Akrofuom that he will take steps to ensure that their investments are well protected, stating that he will liaise with the traditional authorities to ensure that they will have access to litigation free land to invest on.
The Akrofuom DCE further revealed that the District Assembly is in the process of building a modern market to add up to the existing 40 lockable stores and 72 sheds at Akrofuom, promising that he will reserve some for residents in the UK who would want to invest in Akrofuom.
Dr. Maurice Jonas Woode lauded the Akrofuom Citizens Association in the UK and Ireland for their tremendous support back home in the past 3 years of the Association’s existence.
He said their support cuts across various sectors of the economy including education, sanitation and health.
“I want to seize this opportunity to thank the members of this noble association for your support back home. You teamed up with your colleagues in the US to give facelift to the Methodist JHS and the Roman Catholic Primary school at Akrofuom which we remain grateful,” the DCE added.
He also praised them for supporting the Akrofuom Unity and Development Association with bins to be stationed at vantage points. This he said has improved sanitation at Akrofuom.
He thanked the chairman of the Akrofuom Citizens Association, Clement Adjei, for the warm reception he gave him during the trip.
The Chairman in his speech thanked members for their continuous support to the group and asked them to be good ambassadors of the group to attract new members to the group.
He further called on natives of Akrofuom based in the UK and Ireland to join the Association to enable them contribute significantly to the development of Akrofuom.
The Queenmother of Akrofuom, Nana Abenaa Durowaa I, reiterated the need for members of the Association to demonstrate good behaviour in order to attract more members to it.
She further advised the youth living in UK to be disciplined and contribute towards development of Akrofuom.
She debunked rumours of her demise, insisting that she sought permission from Otumfuo Nana Osei II before traveling to the UK to seek medical care.
Nana Abenaa Durowaa I lauded the Adansi Citizens Association for their commitment in giving back to Akrofuom and said she has recently donated beds to the Akrofuom Health center and on the verge of donating wheel chairs and screens to the health facility.
The Association supported an indigene, Winnifred Bosompim, to take temperature, BP readings, sugar levels of residents in their homes and durbar grounds.
She has recently been supported by the Association to undergo professional training in healthcare delivery.
Giving her report to the Association about the success of the intervention, Madam Bosompim said the rationale behind the programme was to imbibe in the people the culture of proactive health measures rather than reactive health measures.
“Glucometers and BP monitoring machines were given out to churches to help actualize the purpose of a healthy living, not leaving behind the Akrofuom.”
She said as at January 2024, they have reached out to over 3,100 people who had willingly offered themselves to be checked and/or diagnosed.
Out of these persons, about 948 persons representing approximately 31% have had abnormal cases from their check-ups.
Explaining further, she said 948 persons whose cases were abnormal, 302 representing 32% were between the ages of 60 and 85, 136 representing 14% were between the ages of 50 and 59, and the remaining 510 people which represents 54% were either49 or below.
“We can now pride ourselves with an achievement of 3 people who were all bedridden of stroke bouncing back to their feet, through our constant regular monitoring and education. We initially had 5 clients who were bedridden of stroke with an average systolic BP of 196 and a diastolic BP of 123mmHg. It can be recounted that out of these 5 clients, one is demised, and the other has been taken away by her children,” she added.
Dr. Maurice Jonas Woode and Winnifred Bosompim were given certificate of recognition by the Association for their immense contributions towards the activities of the Akrofuom Citizens Association.