Winneba (C/R) May 7, GNA - The Central Regional Minister, Mr. Isaac Edumadze on Saturday urged the people of the Effutu Traditional Area not to expend their energies on fruitless chieftaincy conflicts. He said they should rather redirect their efforts into building a strong united Effutu Traditional Area, adding, that chieftaincy conflict, turn away investors.

Mr. Edumadze said this when addressing a durbar of chiefs and people of the Effutu Traditional Area to mark their Annual Aboakyer Festival at Winneba.

The Regional Minister said that the people of Effutu area could utilize the opportunities of Aboakyer to showcase, the real potentials of its development.

For instance, the beaches, fishing, salt, clay, ceramics and other natural resources should be packaged for the large crowds of people who attend Aboakyer festivals to enable them make an informed decision on investment for the benefit of the communities, he said. The Minister said that the Traditional council could forge closer links with the authorities of University of Education Winneba on how best the resources of the area could be harnessed for the benefit of the people.

Mr. Edumadze called for the continued support of the people for government's projects and programmes and thanked them for their massive support during the 2004 general election.

He said the government was committed to pursue its development programme for the region and that the Kasoa-Winneba section of the Mallam-Yamoransa road is near completion and if all goes well, the next phase of the road project would start soon.

The Member of Parliament for Effutu, Mr. Samuel Owusu-Agyei called for unity among the people and said that no area could development without peace.

Mr. Owusu-Agyei, who is also the Deputy Minister for Health urged the people to register with the Mutual Health Insurance Scheme to enable them to benefit from the programme.

The District Chief Executive for Awutu-Effutu-Senya, Captain (RTD) Kwamena Armah also called for peaceful co-existence in the area to accelerate its development.

Captain Armah called on the people to cooperate with people undertaking the registration exercise of the Mutual Health Insurance that has started in the district to ensure its success. In his welcoming address the Omanhene of the Effutu, Neenyi Ghartey VII congratulated the President John Agyekum Kufuor for his second term in office.

"The success of this election has shown how beautiful and peaceful democracy is, let us look back to the wasted years and resolve to stand by our decision to embrace democratic dispensation as the best for the government of this country."

Neenyi Ghartey commended the government for the construction of the Kasoa-Winneba road and the introduction of the Metro transport to the area.

The Tweafo No, 1 Asafo Company was first to bring a catch to the durbar ground. The second Asafo Company was unable to make a catch. The Omanhene stepped on the first live dear brought to the durbar ground as part of the rituals marking the Festival. Among the large crowd in attendance was a delegation from the Gonja traditional Area and Mr. Dan Lartey, former Presidential Candidate of the Great Consolidated People Party (GCPP).