President John Dramani Mahama on Saturday assured the people of Central Region that his administration would work assiduously to develop the area.

He said the government would transform the region from its present position as the third poorest in the country into a better and glorious one.

President Mahama had joined chiefs and people of the Oguaa Traditional Area at a durbar to climax the celebration of the Fetu Afahye, at the Cape Coast Jubilee Park,

The President used the occasion to introduce the technical team from China that would execute the construction of the Kotokuraba Market .

The President promised that the Market and Stadium projects in Cape Coast would be completed and inaugurated in due course together with all other development projects slated for the region.

President Mahama solicited prayers, support and cooperation of the people to enable him to achieve these objectives.

The President appealed to the people to embrace peace to enable the government to successfully carry out its projects to facilitate national growth.

The week-long festival was on the theme: “the Role of Asafo Companies: the Past, the Present and the Future”.

As part of the event, the people observed “ackoms” night on Monday, during which traditional priests and priestesses engaged in enchantments to display their prowess.

The Oman purification rites, which were characterized by the slaughtering of a bull and sprinkling of its blood to pacify the 77 gods to atone for sins committed by the people during the year took place on Friday.

On Tuesday “bakatue” rituals were performed at the Fosu Lagoon to end the month-long ban on fishing in the water body, but a regatta on the lagoon by the various Asafo (warriors) companies did not take place this year in respect for the late President John Evans Atta Mills.

The colourful procession of chiefs carried in palanquins was also not observed for the same reason.

The chiefs and queenmother of Oguaa were dressed in red and black to signify their grief over President Mills’ death, and the the Asafo companies led by their leaders processed through the principal streets of Cape Coast to the durbar grounds.

An unprecedented crowd of people from all walks of life attended the event.

Government and party officials, representatives of the various political parties in the country, local and foreign tourists and the towns’ folk were caught up in frenzy and ecstasy as they broke out in thunderous applause on the arrival of President Mahama and his entourage.

The group included the Trade and Industry Minister, Madam Hanna Tetteh and the Chief of Staff, Henry Martey Newman.

The Regional Minister, Mrs. Ama Benyiwa-Doe led them to greet the chiefs, queenmothers and the people.

The Omanhen of Oguaa, Osabarima Kwesi Atta II, and the Chief Executive of Cape Coast Municipality, Mr. Anthony Egyir Aikins, earlier performed ceremonies to name three principal streets in town in memory of President Mills.

Osabarima Kwesi Atta asked the people to bury their differences and reconcile and unite for the development of the area.

Mrs. Georgina Quaisie and Mr. Sam Brew-Butler, executives of the Oguaaman Union on behalf of the group, presented GH¢29,000 as bursaries to support the education of brilliant but needy students in the area from the Senior High School to the University level.