The Rotary Club of Sunyani Central President, Patricia Kwartemaa Effah has said Rotary Clubs can expand and thrive during the Covid-19 pandemic if they adapt and embrace change.

She said though Rotarians are challenged more than ever, this is the time to show compassion and open their hearts to the needy in the society.

Rotarian Patricia said this after her installation as the Sunyani Central President for 2020/2021 Rotary year in Sunyani, Saturday, taking over the leadership mantle from her predecessor, Dominic Kafui Kornu. 

“We must combine compassion with our commitment to sharing our time, talent, and treasures with those who are less fortunate especially in this challenging covid-19 era”, she urged Rotarians.

She indicated that there are many people in the communities whose only hope may come from Rotary.

” Let us all leave here today ready to make their lives better in any way that we can,” she said, adding that, “we cannot give only our leftover or what we can spare, but we must truly give off ourselves with new vigor in support of the ideals of Rotary”.

She also challenged Rotarians, especially in Sunyani, to live their motto of ” Service Above Self” to leave humanity better than they met it and also ensure “Rotary Opens Opportunities” in the communities, a theme chosen by Rotary International President, Holger Knaack. 

Patricia Effah assured Rotarians of her unflinching commitment to work towards the attainment of the goals, values, and objectives of the Club.

During an outreach programme to educate the people of Benue Nkwanta, a community in the Sunyani Municipality, on coronavirus and how to stay safe, Rotary Club of Sunyani Central distributed 300 reusable face masks to the residents to help them observe the safety protocols.

The Club, with funding support from Rotary Foundation, Partner Rotary Clubs in Canada, and the US, is also expected to spend about USD 300,000 to complete and start some new projects outlined for 2020/2021 Rotary Year in the Bono Region. 

Some of the projects are Yawhima SDA Pre-school block in the Sunyani Municipality, Adadease JHS block in the Tain District, Medical Equipment for Sunyani Municipal Hospital, Incublankets for selected Health Facilities in and around Sunyani.

The outgoing President, Dominic Kafui Kornu entreated all directors of the club not to relent on their efforts to drive the club from strength to strength while assuring the newly sworn-in Directors of his support.

Other officers for the club to support the President are; Dominic Kafui Kornu – Vice President, Samuel Ansu Yeboah – Public Relations, Mawuli J. Tsagliawor – Club Administrator, Alhassan M. Biyira – Membership, Dzifa Agbedra – Rotary Foundation, Frank K. Owusu Debrah,- Club Trainer, Hajia Constance A. Saaka – Sergeant-At-Arms, and Edem K. Agbley – Ex officio Member.