The Shama Youth Center in the Shama Municipality has fallen into a deplorable state after over two decades of neglect.
Built in 2008 by former Member of Parliament Angelina Baiden Amissah to support youth development, the facility has been abandoned, leaving it vulnerable to damage and misuse.
The roof is partially ripped off, and the structure’s walls and pillars are riddled with cracks.
Years of abandonment have turned the once-promising center into a hotspot for social vices, with its location and lack of water access often cited as reasons for its neglect.
Justice Cobinah, the Assembly Member for Shama, has voiced frustration over the state of the center.
He noted that the Shama District Assembly continues to hold official events at private venues, incurring unnecessary costs that could be avoided if the youth center were renovated.
“Renovation of this project has been part of the Assembly’s medium-term plans for years, but no tangible progress has been made. The building is now a hotspot for criminal activities, both during the day and at night. It is a sad situation for the youth and the entire community,” Cobinah lamented.
He is appealing to the public, philanthropists, and well-resourced individuals to contribute to the center’s restoration.
“This facility could be a place of hope and opportunity for our youth, but it needs urgent attention,” he added.
The call for action underscores the potential economic and social benefits the youth center could bring if revived.