The Chiraa community has rallied behind a local youth-led initiative to protest a contentious decision regarding the town’s sole public library.

The Concerned Citizens of Chiraa are calling for the reversal of a proposal, championed by Sunyani West Member of Parliament Hon. Millicent Amankwa Yeboah, to repurpose the library as a fire station.

To the community, the library serves as the intellectual cornerstone, extending beyond its physical structure. In a strongly worded statement, the group emphasized that addressing fire safety concerns should not come at the expense of dismantling the town’s educational infrastructure.

Residents are particularly frustrated with the perceived top-down approach to decision-making, citing a lack of meaningful consultation with library patrons.

The youth are especially vocal about the disregard for their future, stressing that development should be additive rather than subtractive.

The group’s key demands include halting discussions on library works until proper community consultations are conducted, identifying an alternative location for the Ghana National Fire Service station that does not impact educational services, expanding library resources instead of closure, and recognizing the potential consequences of removing the library on the community’s progress.

Below is the full statement

THE CONCERN CITIZENS OF CHIRAA PROTEST* AGAINST THE CONVERSION OF COMMUNITY LIBRARY INTO A FIRE SERVICE STATION AT CHIRAA

We, the concerned Citizens of Chiraa, strongly register our protest against the decision of the member of Parliament for Sunyani west Constituency,Hon Millicent Amankwa Yeboah to convert the existing public library into a fire service station.

The public library has long served as an essential center for learning, research and intellectual development in our community. Converting this vital educational facility into a fire service station will deprive the youth of Chiraa of one of the few academic resources available to us.

While we recognize and appreciate the importance of the Ghana National Fire Service and its crucial role in protecting lives and property, we believe that development should not come at the expense of education. Both safety infrastructure and educational facilities are equally important, and one should not replace the other.

The youth of Chiraa express deep indignation over the lack of adequate consultation with community members before making such a significant decision. This move undermines our educational advancement and disregards the future of the young generation.

We therefore respectfully demand;

An immediate halt to the conversion of the public library building.

Proper stakeholder engagement and community consultation.

Identification of an alternative site for the fire service station that does not disrupt educational services.

Investment in improving and expanding the existing library facilities instead of eliminating them.

Education is the foundation of progress. Removing the public library weakens the intellectual backbone of our community. We urge the appropriate authorities to reconsider this decision in the interest of the youth and the future of Chiraa.

Conveners:

Mr. Kwasi Korang 0244127387

Mr. Justice Ohene Korang 0248454046