Dodome-Awuiaso, (V/R) Oct. 9, GNA - Mr. Joseph Kwaku Nayan, Deputy Volta Regional Minister has called for a culture-led crusade to make discipline and respect for authority a cherished norm among the youth. "Discipline should be made part and parcel of our culture so that the individual is taken through the rudiments of discipline and the effects of indiscipline right from infancy," he stated. Mr. Nayan was addressing the Dodome Youth Association (DYA) Congress, a durbar of chiefs and people of the six Dodome communities in the Ho Municipality.

He said respect for the laws of the land, which is "an essential element of discipline and good citizenship", should be without prompting from anybody.

Mr. George Honuvor, National President of the DYA, said this year's congress, with the theme: "A United Youth, The Engine of Dodome's Development", was to raise funds for a water project for the area. Mr. Honuvor, who is the Volta Regional Director of the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ), called on the traditional authorities to work towards the elimination of outmoded customary practices, such branding people as witches and banning them from the area.

He called on the youth in the area to unite behind the DYA to plan and execute development projects to raise the living standards of the people.

Mr. Joe Mantey, National Coordinator of the National Youth Council (NYC) said under the emerging policy of the Council, youth associations would be guided to be development oriented.

He said the NYC had registered 500 of such associations and urged those not yet registered to do so "to ensure their integration into the mainstreaming of our national developmental agenda."

Mr. Francis Agbotse, Member of Parliament (MP) for the area (Ho-East) expressed regret about the low response to registration for the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) in the area.

Togbega Kpangbatriku, Paramount Chief of the area and Member of the Council of State who chaired the function said every community must tap the huge potential of its youth for development.

Twenty-three million cedis was realized during an appeal for funds at the durbar.