Dzodze (V/R), Oct. 3, GNA - Mr Joseph Amenowode, Volta Regional Minister, has

expressed unhappiness about the gradual collapse of indigenous economic activities which

contributed to the sustenance of rural life. He said the evident consequences were the unavailability of jobs and rising poverty

among the teeming youths who would have been hitherto self-sufficient. Mr Amenowode said this when addressing the 10th Annual Deza-Palm Festival of the

chiefs and people of Dzodze. The festival is celebrated each year and used as a platform for reviving the palm

industry which previously thrived in the area. Mr Amenowode said the oil palm was an important plant, every part of which had

economic value and called for collaboration between the state, the people and private

organizations to revive the industry in the area. He urged the people to take advantage of the Youth in Agriculture Programme to

improve their economic circumstances. He said government was giving the Volta Region its fair share of the national cake,

with 336 school infrastructures being done, 800 communities hooked to the national

electricity grid and number of roads including Akatsi-Aflao and the eastern corridor roads

being constructed. Mr Modestus Ahiable, Ghana's Ambassador to Benin, said Ghana would n= eed to

understudy some of the useful methods being initiated for the revival of th= e oil palm

industry in Benin. Miss Samia Nkrumah, the Convention People's Party Chairperson, appea= led to

government to intervene to revive the oil palm industry and asked the peopl= e to protect

their environment. Colonel Seth Dordunu (rtd), Festival Planning Committee Chairman, said the rising

rate of joblessness and poverty was making the mobilization of the people for

development difficult. He appealed for the expansion and renovation of the Saint Anthony's Hospital, the

Police Station and the market in readiness for the expected rise in human activity after the

completion of the Akatsi-Dzodze-Akanu highway linking Ghana and Togo.