Bolgatanga, Feb 12, GNA - The Paramount Chief of the Bolgatanga Traditional Area, Naba Martin Abilba III, at the weekend appealed to National Democratic Congress (NDC) Members of Parliament to reconsider their decision and go back to take part in the proceedings of the House. He made the appeal in a speech during the annual "Adakoya" festival, celebrated by the people of the traditional area in Bolgatanga.

Adakoya is usually celebrated to thank God for 93His abundant blessings", after a successful cropping season and also to solicit His guidance for the ensuing year.

Naba Abilba noted that Ghana had chalked a lot of democratic success in the international landscape and could not therefore afford to mar it.

"Ghana needs to maintain and sustain the beautiful democracy it is enjoying", he said.

Naba Abilba entreated NDC MPs to put the development of the nation above partisan politics and work amicably to move the nation ahead. He exhorted MPs to as much as possible try to resolve their differences in a diplomatic way that would not affect the work of Parliament.

The Paramount chief announced that the Bolgatanga Traditional Area Child Education fund initiated by the Traditional Council was supporting four brilliant but needy students pursuing medicine at the university. The Fund was also sponsoring other students in the teacher training and nursing training colleges.

He appealed to NGOs, Corporate bodies and philanthropists to endeavour to contribute to the Fund to enable it to sponsor more students in the area.

Naba Abilba congratulated President John Agyekum Kufuor on his election to the chairmanship of the Africa Union and assured him that the Traditional Council would give him all the necessary support in the discharge of his duties.

The Paramount Chief also commended the Government for initiating good policies that were yielding positive results.

"The Capitation Grant, School feeding programme, the National Youth Employment Programme, the Metro Bus system and the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) are some of the good policies that are impacting positively on the lives of the people", he enumerated.

He, however, urged the Government to help improve the supply of potable water in the municipality and also called on the Bolgatanga Municipal Assembly to always release the Government's poverty alleviation fund in time to the people, especially farmers, to enable them to undertake economic activities at the appropriate time. An Appeal for funds in cash and pledges towards a Girl Child Education Fund yielded 16 million cedis. 12 Feb. 07