Osabarima Okokyeredom Kwadwo Sito, Omanhene of the Banda Ahenkro Traditional area has sent an SOS to the government to send a team to spray black flies in the Black Volta river.

He said the presence of the flies, which causes river blindness, is hampering farming and educational activities in the area.

Speaking at a meeting in Banda Ahenkro at the weekend, Nana Sito said the river used to be sprayed periodically, ''but now they have stopped''.

The Onchocerciasis Control Programme (OCP) under which the area was sprayed with lavicide has come to end. The black flies do not carry the worms that cause river blindness but their bite is a nuisance.

Nana Sito called o the District Directorate of Education in Wenchi, to post more teachers to the area where several schools do not have teachers.

He appealed to the government to revisit the Bui Dam project, which he said could create jobs for the youth in the area and boost socio-economic activities.

Nana Sito expressed gratitude to the government for appointing Mr Joe Danquah, as the District Chief Executive for Wenchi, saying he is "the first Banda citizen to hold such a high position in the district".

Chief Superintendent O. M Gyeabour, Divisional Commander of the Ghana Police Service, Wenchi, called on communities in the district to establish neighbourhood watch committees to assist the Police in combating crime.