Obaabun Ogyedom Obrenuwa Adwoa Yankey I, the development queen of Afransi, on Saturday observed that the high infant mortality and poverty rates were some of the challenges impeding development in the area.
She has therefore promised to source funding for the construction of a modern hospital to provide quality health care for the people, particularly women and children.
Addressing the 23rd annual Akwambo festival of the Chiefs and People of Gomoa Afransi in the Gomoa East district of the Central Region, Obrenuwa Yankey said she has been "touched by the suffering of the people" and would therefore help them out of their predicament.
Apart from the pledge for the provision of quality health care, Obrenuwa Yankey promised to construct a computer school for Afransi for ICT training for pupils and also embark on an exchange programme between students within the Afransi community and Canadian students for their mutual benefit.
Nana Ogyedom Obrenu Kwesi Atta VI, Chief of Gomoa Afransi expressed his sincere gratitude to the development queen for her great interest to assist in the development of the district.
Nana Ogyedom appealed to the government to construct teachers' quarters in the district to help retain teachers posted there, saying that the proximity of the quarters to the schools in the area would enhance the general academic performance of students.
He also appealed to the district assembly to construct a modern market at Afransi, the district capital of Gomoa East, to help create jobs for the people and boost the commercial business activities to eradicate poverty.
Mrs Elizabeth Amoah-Tetteh, Deputy Minister of Education in charge of Pre-tertiary, and Member of Parliament (MP) for Twifo Atti Mokwaa urged parents to be supportive in their wards education, if the area is to see development in the near future.
She said education is one of the priorities of the present government and would therefore leave no stone unturned to ensure that the district get a senior high school.
Mrs Amoah-Tetteh advised male teachers not to befriend their students and cautioned that the law will take its full course when caught and urged female students to take their studies seriously by resolving to attain higher positions in future.
Present at the festival were Mr Mike Hammah, Minister for Roads and Transport and Mr Isaac Okyere Adu-Amoah, MP for Gomoa East.