By Isaac
Arkoh, GNA
Cape Coast, July 11, GNA – Cape Coast Youth
Development Association (CCYDA) has
called on Former President John Dramani Mahama and the leadership of the
National Democratic Congress (NDC) to act to save the abandoned Atta Mills
Presidential library.
They said “it will be a scar on the
conscience of the Former President Mahama and the leadership of the party if
the ultra-modern facility is left to rot.”
According to the group, the reopening of the
facility would help to protect and preserve the life and integrity of former
President John Evans Atta Mills.
The state of the art facility had been closed
because of the inability of the Committee set up to oversee its construction to
pay the contractors.
It was inaugurated by former President John
Dramani Mahama on Sunday, July 24, 2016 to promote academic research and
generally improve education in the Metropolis.
However, the magnificent library is fast
deteriorating and losing its beauty and essence after years of neglect by
authorities.
The deterioration had been compounded by its
proximity to the sea which was decomposing the metallic objects and air
conditioners.
Addressing a press conference on Wednesday, Mr
Richard Bekoe, Secretary of the group stated that the research centre befitted
the life of late Prof Mills who was a renowned academician, sportsman, a
politician and a peace-loving Ghanaian.
They had earlier on called on President Nana
Addo Dankwa Akuffu-Addo to as a matter of urgency ensure that the library was
opened for use.
They stated the opening of the library would
create employment for the youth in the area and significantly reverse the
falling standards of education in the metropolis.
In addition to safeguarding Presidential
documents and being a centre for education, it would also serve as a tourist
site to rake in revenue for accelerated development.
CCYDA also called on the Mr Totobi Kwakyi, the
Chairman of the committee for the construction of the Atta Mills library to
render account on the closure of the facility and all outstanding monies owed
the contractor.
Above all, they threatened to demonstrate on
the eve of the sixth anniversary celebration of late President Mills if the
library was not opened.
The Presidential library, first of its kind in
the country comes with a 100-seater capacity auditorium, 45-seater multi-media
centre, seminar rooms and a museum that holds historical materials that
reflect the life and works of the late President.
It also has a museum, which would be stocked
with documents, records, collections and historical materials of the late
President and other industrious Africans, a conference facility, offices and a
centre to host researchers.
The edifice also has a virtual sound room that
echoes the voice of Prof. Mills in his memorable speeches and images that bring
to life his sojourn as a celebrated academic, keen sportsman, humble
politician, devout Christian, servant leader, President and peace-loving
Ghanaian.
GNA