Banda-Ahenkro Dec. 5, GNA - Osabarima Okokyiridom Kojo Sito I, Paramount Chief of Banda Traditional Area in Brong Ahafo on Monday called on the government to extend the Common Fund to Paramount Chiefs to enable hem to implement programmes.

He stressed that the development of the people at the community level could not be achieved without the right leadership and the involvement of traditional rulers.

"Nananom are always there for the people to fall on to address their needs but they are poorly resourced to meet these legitimate demands from the people", the Omanhene said.

Osabarima Sito was addressing a durbar at Banda Ahenkro to climax the week-long celebration of the annual Yam Festival of the area, on the theme "Unity, peace and development".

The festival is celebrated among people of Kralongo and Peteli gates, who were said to have emigrated from Kakala in the Southern part of Cote d'Ivoire more than 300 years ago as a result of conflicts. Osabarima Sito noted with concern that the strength of the people had been weakened in the immediate past by chieftaincy disputes. "We need to close our ranks to avoid the influence of detractors who thrive on divisions amongst us", he advised and urged the people to forget the past and continue to work together towards total unity.

Osabarima Sito announced that a Chinese company was to start the development of Bui Dam in the area in July 2007 to supplement national power generation.

He called on government and all stakeholders to take keen interest in the development of the project. The Omanhene said his priority would be the adoption of measures to

combat the downward trend of education in the area as well as the active participation of the people to ensure steady progress. He commended the government for the introduction of the capitation grant, school feeding programme and the national health insurance scheme, which he said was a big relief to parents.

MR. Isaac Anane Yeboah, Assembly Member-elect for Banda-Ahenkro electoral area appealed to the government to consider the absorption of Bandaman Secondary School into the public educational system He said Pioneers Ghana, an NGO, had been supporting the school, which was started in 1991 as a community institution, with quantities of assorted books and renovation of structures.

Mr. Yeboah appealed to Ghana Education Service to at least absorb the salaries of the current five teachers in the school. Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Kwaku Ayensu Opare-Addo, Regional Commander, later commissioned a 300-million cedis policies post and quarters being constructed by the community.