<<Print>>

The Minister of Tourism, Mrs. Juliana Azumah-Mensah has advised the youth to desist from activities that will discourage tourists from visiting sites in their localities but rather entice visitors through activities like festivals. Mrs. Azumah-Mensah made the call when she joined the chiefs and people of Kodzobi in the Adaklu Anyigbe District of the Volta Region to celebrate their Bliza (or Corn Festival) last weekend. The minister urged metropolitan, municipal and district assemblies to initiate programmes to train tour guides and construct receptive sites to enhance tourism. She noted that through partnerships with communities such ventures of promoting tourism would create jobs and wealth for the youth. Mrs. Azumah-Mensah who is also the member of Parliament for Ho East assured the chiefs of her commitment to initiating income generating projects, and improving infrastructure in education and health facilities. She appealed to the youth to embrace the Youth-in-Agriculture programme by forming groups and called on traditional authorities to encourage the programme by releasing lands. Togbe Dzegblade IV, chief of the town, appealed for assistance and support to complete a six-unit classroom block office and a store for the local primary school and the Junior High School. He said due to the peace, unity and harmony prevailing in the traditional area there was the need to construct the road leading to the Kalakpa Forest Reserve to attract tourists. Togbe Dzegblade disclosed that a 10-year development plan had been initiated to include a community centre complex, a library and a computer training centre estimated at GH�50,000 to commence by the end of the year. Mr. Joseph Amenowode, the Volta Regional Minister called on the people in the traditional area to bury their differences regarding the location of their district capital at Kpetoe and work in unity for the development of the district. �We want to create a region with a conducive atmosphere, where the dreams and aspirations of its inhabitants can be attained and maximized,� he stressed. Mr. Amenowode advised the people to use the opportunity of festivals to forge ahead in togetherness, work in peace, love and unity so as to contribute positively to the development of the traditional area. Mr. Emmanuel Natchikor, a member of the festival planning committee said the festival had become a memorable event for the people since it was introduced in 1983 in remembrance of the famine that occurred in the entire nation and had to be institutionalized as a result of the good harvest that brought joy and an apparent end to the situation. Mr. Oscar Lovinda, leader of a delegation from the Fundamental Baptist Fellowship Association from the United States of America who have adopted the community advised communities to compliment the efforts of development partners to enable them to sustain projects.