General News of Wednesday, 8 November 2000

Source: GNA

Awoonor appeals for peaceful elections in Ghana

Professor Kofi Awoonor, Presidential Staffer, has appealed to the people of the Tapa Traditional Area in the Volta region of Ghana to conduct themselves in an orderly and mature manner during this year's general election.

Awoonor, who was addressing the third annual "Frikooso Afahye" festival, reminded the people that "Ghana has caught the eyes of the world". The chiefs and their Members of Parliament must therefore discuss thoroughly the issue of a separate region before their request is forwarded to Parliament for debate.

People in the area have lately being advocating for a separate region. Vice-Chairman of the National Commission on Culture Ebo Hawkson, suggested to the traditional council to mount cultural exhibitions as side attractions to their annual Frikooso festival to showcase their heritage.

Miss Vida Asiedu-Donkor, Jasikan District Chief Executive, urged the people to use the festival to initiate development projects. She lamented the inability of some communities in the district to utilise building materials supplied to them by the assembly for their projects.

She said the assembly has therefore decided to provide such assistance to communities, which have shown concrete evidence of utilising such opportunities. Nana Ogrohwe Anyenam Kwaku Boaten II, Tapahene, called for the creation of a Biakoye District out of Jasikan District and a separate region from the Volta Region.