By Kofi Yeboah
CAPE Coast is one of the most famous cities in Ghana that continues to attract national and international attention. Historically, Cape Coast is a very significant city in the country and, indeed, the world at large.
Centuries ago, the Cape Coast Castle was used by the white man as a slave camp from where millions of blacks in the Gold Coast and other parts of the West African sub-region were packed like goods and shipped into slavery in the Americas. The historical significance of that event is the reason why the castle is today recognised as one of the UN Heritage sites in the world.
Again, Cape Coast is a city of huge political stature, both in the past and present. As the preferred destination and abode of the colonial regimes, the city was designated as the first capital of the Gold Coast until that status was transferred to Accra. In the modern political context, the city is considered by politicians as the battle ground for supremacy over the Central Region.
Perhaps, one heritage that gives Cape Coast a huge image is the fact that it is the citadel of education in Ghana. Apart from being host to one of Ghana’s public and great universities, the city is also a home to some of the finest second cycle institutions in the country that have produced great intellectuals like the former UN Secretary-General, Mr Kofi Annan. Schools like Mfantsipim, St Agustine, Adisadel, Holy Child and Wesley Girls represent an emphatic statement of the success story of education in Ghana.
The mystery behind the huge fame of the city, however, is that it is clothed in a thick blanket of under-development, a situation that really defies logic. Although the city currently has a metropolitan status, it is described, sarcastically though, in many quarters as the largest villages in Africa. Very ironical.
But the reality is that there are no factories or industries in the town and that has given rise to high unemployment rate, particularly among the youth. The situation is such that majority of the youth head towards Accra as soon as they complete basic education, while those who stay behind, just parade the streets with no promising future.
That negative image is what some citizens of Cape Coast have resolved to reverse and to ensure that there is a perfect match between the name and fame of the city. Under the umbrella of the Oguaaman Union, the citizens have initiated various programmes to transform the development of Cape Coast.
As the late Chief Justice, George Kingsley Acquah, noted when he inaugurated the union in Accra in October 2004, "It looks as if we need a Nehemiah to come and rebuild Cape Coast and reorient the people", just like Nehemiah in the Bible responded to the challenge of rebuilding the great walls of Jerusalem.
And for Cape Coasters, the Nehemiah who responded to the call of rebuilding their city is Nana Sam Brew Butler, a renowned football administrator. It was he who conceived the idea of rallying committed citizens of the land way back in 2004 to promote its development. Today, that dream is fast coming alive!
The Oguaaman Union was officially and legally incorporated as a company limited by guarantee in August 2004. Its objectives are to promote peace and foster unity and fraternity among citizens of Cape Coast both at home and in the Diaspora; mobilise human and natural resources for the development of the city; to solicit support for projects in Cape Coast, as well as seek representation at the national level; and to organise a bi-annual congress of all citizens of Cape Coast to deliberate and take decisions on issues affecting the town.
One key challenge that the union seeks to address is the falling standards of education at the basic level. The high quality education that Cape Coast is noted for at the second cycle level sharply contrasts with the poor quality of education at the basic level. As a result, many children from the town are unable to gain admission into the high profile second cycle institutions to enable them benefit from quality education.
In line with its objectives, union launched the Oguaaman Education and Development Trust Fund in October 2005. The objective of the fund are to mobilise resources for the upgrading of educational infrastructure and offering of scholarships to needy students; support school and community educational programmes on HIV/AIDS; and to enhance economic empowerment through the promotion of tourism and harnessing of resources.
These intervention measures are aimed at reversing the declining standards of education and increasing poverty levels, as well as reduce the HIV/AIDS infection rate.
The launching of the fund is particularly significant because more than a century ago, the forebears of the present generation of Oguaaman, had set up a similar fund to promote the cause of education. Since its inauguration over the past four years, the Oguaaman Union has made positive strides that cannot escape mention. It has established a computer laboratory at the St Monica’s School for student within the school’s catchment area. On Saturday, August 30, 2008, the union would inaugurate another computer laboratory at the Methodist Basic School to expand the frontiers of computer literacy for the students.
Through its initiative, the Oguaaman Union also managed to secure from the Ghana Museums and Monuments Board an offer to use the Palaver Hall in the Cape Coast Castle to accommodate the Oguaahene for the performance of his administrative duties.
The union is also providing support to children from the town in the Play Soccer Ghana (PSG) programme, which aims at using participation in sports, particularly football, to educate the youth. About 80 children in Cape Coast between the ages of five and 14 meet every week to go through skills and health training through football. The children are also given access to the computer laboratories to learn.
The PSG programme in Cape Coast is even gaining international recognition. The world football governing body, FIFA is considering building a centre at Cape Coast that would comprise of an astro football pitch, a clinic and a library. When completed, the centre would become one of the venues in the world where the 2010 World Cup football would be kicked in a manner akin to the rotation of the Olympic touch.
As the people of Cape Coast celebrate their annual Fetu Afahye, the Oguaaman Union is urging all Cape Coasters to use the occasion to think, plan and support the development of the town.
"It is a period for merry-making, but let’s use it to promote the development of Cape Coast", says Nana Butler, General Secretary of the union.
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