The Volta Regional Minister, Mr. Joseph Amenorwode, has appealed to communities to use festivals in mobilizing both human and material resources for development.

"Festivals should not only remind us of our rich cultural heritage but
also unite us as a people and provide a forum for the exchange of ideas and programmes for the development and well-being of our communities", he said.

Mr. Amenorwode said this when he addressed a grand durbar of the chiefs and people of Adaklu-Kodzobi in the Adaklu-Anyigbe District that climaxed their Bliza (Corn Festival).

The festival was initiated 25 years ago by the people to give thanks to God for a bumper corn harvest that ended the 1983 famine.

Mr. Amenorwode said improving upon the quality of the life of the
people was a major challenge at the moment and it encompassed good health, better education, a healthy environment, poverty reduction, more employment opportunities, greater individual freedom and a richer cultural life.

"Peace is the clear and unfettered road that leads to development and progress, so let us maintain peace and unity and not allow resources meant for the development of the region to be put into conflict resolution by our actions or inactions", he said.

Mrs. Juliana Azumah-Mensah, the Minister of Tourism and Member of
Parliament for the area, said though government was committed to
facilitating the development agenda of all communities, they should not sit down for government alone to do it but initiate their own
development programmes.

Mr. Michael Kobla Adzaho, Adaklu Anyigbe District Chief Executive,
thanked the people of Adaklu for rescinding their decision to boycott
the district saying it would accelerate the development of the district.   

Togbe Dzegblade IV, chief of the community, appealed to politicians
not to be boastful of their past achievements but rather work
assiduously to meet the demands of the people.

An appeal for funds in aid of a community centre yielded about 3,000
Ghana cedis.

GNA/DS