The chiefs and people of Gwira Traditional Area in the Nzema East Municipality of Western Region say the lack of social amenities in the area continues to affect development, and the wellbeing of all inhabitants.

According to the traditional rulers, the poor road network in the area is the number one challenge that continues to affect social and economic activities.

Making a presentation of these challenges facing the traditional area to the Western Regional Minister Joseph Nelson, the Paramount Chief of Gwira traditional Area, Awulae Angama Tu-agyan, who leads the council, said the poor road infrastructure in the area is the most disturbing social issue currently confronting his administration as the traditional leader of the area.
"All commercial activities, including farming, are hampered by the negative impact of our poor road network".

The chief presented the challenges facing the area on behalf of the Gwira Traditional Council at a meeting the council had with the Regional Minister last Friday.

According to Awulae Angama Tu-agyan, complaints from his subjects include the deplorable state of the road network in virtually all the communities in the area.

"As we speak, there is no single bridge in the area, and the only colonial bridge existing in the area has also collapsed. As if we have been neglected by successful governments" he lamented.

He explained that the colonial bridge was constructed in 1958 and has since been in a wobbly state and requires replacement.

Consequently, he said he made the frantic effort of travelling to Takoradi to see the Highway authorities for the timely replacement of the collapsed bridge, and yet to no avail.

The outspoken Chief explained that during the heat of the 2024 electioneering campaign, he had the privilege of meeting then–candidate John Dramani Mahama at Gwira Kutukrom to remind him about the state of the roadwork in the area.

Aside from the poor state of the roadwork, Awulae Angama Tu-agyan disclosed that the poor telecommunication network has also been affecting education. "Without access to the quality network, mobile phones become useless, and teachers being posted here continue to use these challenges as excuses to vacate their posts".

Considering the contribution the previous administration of President John Dramani Mahama made to education in the Gwira Traditional Area, including the provision of a Senior High School, the Chief commended President John Dramani Mahama and the NDC for being at the forefront of expanding education in the Gwira area and across the country.

“We therefore appealed to President John Dramani Mahama to turn his attention to the area and provide boarding facilities for the very first established Senior High School in the area to be upgraded.

"Last year, the school was fourth on the school ratings, and that shows that if we have boarding facilities there, the school can do more", he emphasised.

He said upon realising that teacher retention in the area had become difficult, the traditional area worked closely with stakeholders to get national service personnel to be posted to communities within the area, and these personnel are being motivated to stay in the classrooms instead of vacating their posts due to the aforementioned challenges overwhelming them.
As for being connected to the national grid and coverage of power, he said virtually all communities in the area can boast of electricity, which is widespread.

On security, the Paramount Chief revealed that many of the communities are currently very insecure because of a lack of police posts to monitor and police the communities.
"Only Domenase has a police station in the whole of Gwira Traditional Area. Therefore, we need police posts at Banso, Kutukrom, Tabakrom, among other areas”.

Aside from police posts, he said the area will also require a fire service station to protect them against intermittent fire outbreaks.

He appealed to the Regional Minister to lobby seriously for the government to create jobs in the area to address truancy, laziness and the growing phenomenon of youth unemployment.

"We are helpless at the moment because many of the youth are engaged in tramadol and other hard drugs, which are destroying them due to lack of opportunities and jobs", he remarked.
In the health sector, he said the whole of the Nzema East Municipality currently relies on the Axim Government Hospital.

But, aside Axim, Bamiankor is the next place where there is a health center which is not well equipped, and the rest of the communities cannot boast of any health care centre.
To this end, he said the traditional area requires more health facilities to address pertaining health concerns confronting the people.

He said the traditional area will be happy to see the Minister assessing the situation in the area for himself.

"We want to see you at Gwira. We are in a difficult situation. We know what the President is doing and can do, therefore inform him about our challenges".

The Paramount Chief requested the Western Regional Minister to create room for them to meet with President John Dramani Mahama and explain all their issues to him.