Nandom (NAR-DOM) literally meaning "Let's Rather Stay" (stands to be corrected) said to be given by our great grand parents who had travelled several miles supposedly from the southern sector of Ghana (Elmina in Cape Coast) to the present land, is blessed with talents of all sorts. Situated approximately ten miles away from Hamile (the border town separating Burkina Faso from Ghana), the people are predominantly Roman Catholics (more than 52 thousand) registered Catholics, some minority Moslems, and a few traditionalists. Basically, it used to be pagan dominated, but with the advent of Christianity espoused by the early Missionaries, most people started drifting into Christianity and were therefore baptised into the church in Jirapa where the Missionaries first settled and later in Nandom around the latter parts of the 1920's.
All that we have are traces of Missionary works and we cannot boast of any singular thing without traces of the church's contribution. The Senior Secondary School is a Missionary school, all the basic schools are, the only hospital that serves over 54 thousand population is a Mission Hospital (now an agency hospital), the Vocational Schools, St Anne's and Nandom Vocational School are nothing but mission schools.
Economically, we are agriculture dependent, doing subsistence farming and are rain fed. We do not have any irrigation facilities in and around our environs, thereby pushing the young and energetic youths into the southern sector to do menial jobs in cocoa farms and other farming activities at a great peril of their lives. They love to work, but the inputs are not available for them to use in realising their dreams and desires.
Those who have had the opportunity of being in school have majored in medicines, law, nursing, computing, teaching etc and are doing very well in the field of their choices. It is proven that Nandom is the only town with a smaller geographical area that has most doctors. But unfortunately, none of these doctors are manning the District hospital because of myriads of problems they face when they attempt to. Dr. Edward N. Gyader who attempted to help (and has actually helped) faced severally of these problems, ranging from alms begging to payment of medical bills and other numerous challenges. Another doctor nicknamed "Dr. Short" had virtually his village community residing in his residence anytime they attended the hospital.
The Nandom Youth Forum (NYF, an NGO made up of young professionals from the Nandom Traditional Area) have been organising themselves and have been raising funds in support of health, education and community development. They annually organise a medical outreach programme every Easter period in the St Thersa's Hospital - Nandom for free to those who cannot in one way or the other attend hospital.
Through their medical outreach programmes, they have been able to operate on Major and Minor cases some time ago in 2010/2011 for free.
One thing worth mentioning is the introduction of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) by the government. It has improved on the health status of the people and has allowed people who hitherto resorted into taking local treatment report to the hospital on a frequent basis for medical attention. It has seriously improved upon the way people regarded the health facility and has also put a lot of pressure on the hospital's staff. It is therefore important that NGO's and international organisations are called upon to come into Nandom to see how best they can be of help to the community. The people are welcoming and sociable. We have a reach and vibrant culture (using the XYLOPHONE) for our funerals, church service, any form of dance and are fast at learning new things. We have a vast land available for any project development and implementation. The land is litigation free since we have a chief who is learned and conscious of new developments in the global village.
We also have all the major telecommunications networks in the area, except Espresso. We have MTN, Vodafone, Airtel and Glo which is yet to be operational. Nandom is crying for help in any form. Just venture into the area and experience it for yourself.
Who is listening? I know it is you and you are expected to share this with someone who can help. Hesitate not to do so. Thank you.
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