Youth in Shama Municipality are expressing growing concern over the continued neglect of the Shama Youth Center.
The once beautiful edifice has been left to rot over the past decade, with no efforts by the District Assembly to renovate or invest in its future.
The youth center which was built in 2008 by the former Member of Parliament for the area, Angelina Baiden Amissah with the vision to augment youth development in the municipality has been a breeding ground for all forms of social vices by the youths.
Years of neglect has left the building in a deplorable state with half of the roof ripped off, and its walls and pillars developing cracks.
Sadly, the facility remains unused with its location and lack of access to water often cited as reasons for its neglect.
Justice Cobinah, the Assembly Member for Shama and leader of the youths is expressing concerns over the facility’s dilapidated state, emphasizing the social and economic benefits that could come from its renovation.
He pointed out that, the Assembly currently holds some of its official events at private institutions, and that renovating the youth center could help the Assembly save money by hosting these activities at the facility.
He further lamented that efforts to get funding from the Assembly to renovate has been futile.
“Renovation of this project has been part of the Assembly’s medium-term plans for years, but no tangible progress has been made….The building is now a hotspot for criminal activities, both during the day and at night. It is a sad situation for the youth and the entire community.”
Cobinah is now making a clarion call to the general public and well-to-do individuals to help fund the renovation of the youth center, stressing its potential to bring social and economic benefits to the municipality.
“This facility could be a place of hope and opportunity for our youth, but it needs urgent attention,” he added.
