The Tumu Community Center in the Sissala East Municipality, which used to host major entertainment and other social functions is suffering serious deterioration after decades of neglect.

The roof of the building had been ripped off with sheets of zinc flipping with walls defaced and falling apart while visible cracks on the floor and doors left ajar.

Some residents had turned the place into a place of convenience and left unwanted materials in there for stray animals.

That was observed when the Ghana News Agency (GNA) went to assess the current state of the facility.

Some event organisers and artists in the municipality had decried the current deplorable state of the community centre and called for measures to renovate it.

Mr Shaibu Kukunlinbenin, a radio show host in Tumu, said the facility’s location in the heart of the Tumu town made it easier to access, but said it looked abandoned with erosion eating away the frontage saying, “I think it lacks the integrity to host any serious social event of the Sissala East Municipality.”

Mr Danlardi Nahadia, a musician and event organizer, said they resorted to the community centre for their events because they did not have any option.

“We used to pay GH₵100.00 last year but from this year it has been increased by GH₵195.00 but the place has not been renovated for a long time.

Mr Fuseini Batong Yakubu, the Sissala East Municipal Chief Executive, told the GNA that the Assembly had come up with a new design for the Community Centre where other facilities would be included.

They included a skills acquisition Center for the physically challenged, a cafeteria, a playing area, an auditorium with seating for guests and an area for shows that had been discussed awaiting funding to give a facility a turnaround.

He said the challenge of financing the project had been an issue that the Assembly was working to resolve.

Mr Batong expressed hope that the Gulf of Guinea Northern Regions Social Cohesion (SOCO) project was being explored to see whether it could support the new Tumu Community Center Complex.

Source: GNA