General News of Monday, 20 October 1997

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Akwamu Royal Family Initiates 150 Million Cedis Development Programme

Techiman (Brong Ahafo Region), 16 Oct. Members of the Akwamu royal family of Techiman have initiated a three-year development programme estimated to cost about 150 million cedis. Projects envisaged include a three-storeyed modern palace, 50- acre cashew and five-acre teak plantations, according to Nana Owusu Agyare the second, Akwamuhene of the Techiman Traditional area. He was addressing a durbar to climax the week-long celebration of the annual 'Ameyaw Agyare' yam festival of the family at Techiman yesterday. Nana Agyare said the projects would be funded from revenue accruing from stool lands and this would be supplemented from voluntary contributions from members of the family. He said more than 5,600 cashew and teak seedlings have been nursed for sale adding that proceeds from the farming projects would be used to educate children from the family. Osabarima Dotobibi Takyi-Ameyaw, paramount chief of the Techiman traditional area, commended the Akwamuhene and his family members for initiating such a programme to promote unity and wellbeing among them. He called for support and understanding for the success of the programme and advised the people to avoid squabbles which could divide their ranks.