The government has presented to the people of Apiate, a draft copy of the local plan for the reconstruction of the Apiate Community. The draft plan is to solicit the input of the people before the actual reconstruction begins.
The Minister of Lands and Natural Resources Samuel Abu Jinapor who inspected the temporary resettlement site said the government is committed to making life better for the people.
The temporary resettlement of 76 Units can accommodate all the 800 displaced residents of the Appiatse Community. Mr. Jinapor said the work on the resettlement Community will begin within a matter of weeks.
The Minister declared this when he again paid a working visit to Apiate together with the Reconstruction Committee. on Monday, 21st February 2022.
The visit was to among other things check up on the well being of the people of Apiate, update them on the government’s road map to restore the township, and also make arrangements for the temporary habitation of the people of Appiatse witness for himself some temporary structures earmarked to house the displaced people of Appiatse before the rain sets in.
Speaking at the durbar in Apiate, the Hon. Minister disclosed that some uncompleted structures originally being constructed by FGR, a private mining company based in the region to resettle the Dumase township will be completed and furnished to temporarily house the people of Appiatse before the rains set in.
He said ” These tents cannot protect you from the rains so in the interim we have agreed with FDR to have you move into their building while we settle on plans to begin the third phase and that is to rebuild the community itself”
Hon. Jinapor assured the people that work at these uncompleted structures will begin as soon as possible with the roofing, fixing of doors and windows, adding that all the monies accumulated from the Appiatse Support Fund will be put to judicious use while ensuring transparency and accountability.
” We will ensure that all the monies being donated into the fund are put to judicious use. I assure you that the community will be built on equity, fairness, and justice, all who owned houses, Lands and shops will all have it restored to them and every single penny will be accounted for”
” And for the New Apiate, we will ensure that we restore the community as practical as possible. We want to maintain the character of the place so that you can easily go back to your way of life, farming, selling among others”
He stressed that the Dumase temporary settlement will not be a permanent place for the people and therefore warned that no one should claim ownership of the settlement but rather move peacefully to the new township after completion.
Hon. Jinapor said a block factory will be set up as a matter of urgency to mold blocks out of some 6000 bags of cement that have been donated for the rebuilding of the town.
He charged the Member of Parliament, Municipal Chief Executive, and the Assemblyman of the area to man the factory and ensure that cement is used purposely for the molding of these blocks.
He also called on the people, particularly the youth to do the little they can to cooperate and support the Ministry and government with works on the uncompleted structures and the main project yet to be embarked on.
Story by:Kwaku Stephen
