Akropong-Akuapem (E/R), Oct. 15, GNA - The Eastern Regional Minister, Dr Kwasi Akyem Apea-Kubi has appealed to the Akuapem Traditional Authoritie= s to peacefully resolve all land disputes in the area to help maintain stability.

Dr Apea-Kubi was speaking at this year's durbar of the chiefs and people at Akropong-Akuapem to celebrate the annual Odwira festival, which coincided with the 37th anniversary of the installation of Oseadeeyo Addo Dankwa III, Okuapemhene (Paramount Chief of Akuaapem). This year's odwira festival was held on the theme: 93Need for mora= l restoration in Ghana." Dr Apea-Kubi said government had initiated the legal process to upgrad= e the Akuapem North District to a Municipality.

He said government is providing many social amenities like school buildings, hospital infrastructure, roads and many other projects to ensure the fulfilment of the better Ghana agenda.

Dr Apea-Kubi said the Akuapem North District had benefited from 19 school projects in all the second cycle institutions within the last two years. He congratulated the chiefs and people for raising the Odwira festival to international standards to attract tourists. The Regional Minister asked the revellers to stay away from acts that would influence them to attract HIV and AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases.

In a speech read on his behalf, the Okuapemhene; Oseadeeyo Addo Dankwa III, expressed regret about the breakdown of moral values in the society an= d called on stakeholders to work towards its restoration. He observed that, morality is an essential element of national development. Oseadeeyo Addo Dankwa called on Akuapems to take a leading role to restore the virtuous pillar of the society.

He called for the demonstration of good morals during next year's national elections to ensure free, fair and transparent elections. The Odwira festival is the traditional new year of the chiefs and peopl= e of Akuapem and the time when Akuapems all over the world come home to meet friends and relations. The event was attended by large crowd of people including diplomats, Members of Parliament, government representatives and the Presidential Candidate of the main opposition New Patriotic Party, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo. The festival was first celebrated in 1826 during the reign of Nana Add= o Dankwa the I.