By Jesse Ampah Owusu
Accra, Oct. 28, GNA – The Hope Network, a group of Tapa Amanfrom natives in Accra, has commenced activities to establish a modern STEM and ICT Educational Centre in their hometown.
The move by the group dubbed, “Tutena Legacy Project” is to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the creation of the community after their resettlement in 1964 to make way for the Akosombo Dam project.
The Tapa Amanfrom community, in the Biakoye District of the Oti Region was created out of three former communities, namely Tapa Akaniem, Tapa Odai and Tapa Breniase.
The Group organised a Fundraising event in Accra GHS600,000 for the project in two years.
Madam Lydia Asantewah, Vice President of the Hope Project, said they decided to put up the Centre to offer local children science and technical education, since the community lacked educational infrastructure and resources in STEM and ICT.
She said the Centre would be the base for practical STEM and ICT education, as well as equip them with the necessary skills and technical know-how to create projects and innovations to solve challenges in the community and Ghana as a whole.
“This would enable us create scientists, mathematicians, engineers, and ICT savvy individuals in our community to build Tapaman and Ghana as a whole,” she added.
Madam Asantewah said they chose an educational project because it offered hope for the development of the community.
Mr John Donkor Boateng, an Elder of Tapa Amanfrom, commended the Group for their initiative, saying, investing in the community’s education was the best investment and support they could give for their hometown.
He called on all natives to support the group to raise the needed capital for the project.
Mr Boateng said the community was faced with a number of challenges, including poor educational and healthcare infrastructure.
In 1964, prior to the construction of the Akosombo Dam, three towns, namely Tapa Akaniem, Tapa Odai and Tapa Breniase, all parts of the Tapa Traditional Area had to be evacuated to a new settlement named Tapa Amanfrom.
This led to their loss of households and farmlands where they planted cash crops such as cocoa, coffee, and palm, as well as timber plantations making it difficult for them to survive in their new environment.
At their new settlement, the government allocated parcels of land to families, whereas, families occupying compound households at their previous settlement were allocated three-bedroom flats each.
The Hope Network was established in 2020 by natives of Tapa Amanfrom in Accra to support the development of their hometown through outreaches and community-based projects.
GNA