Mepe (V/R), Aug. 5, GNA- Togbe Kwabla Dapaah II, Divisional Chief of the Mepe Traditional Area, at the weekend asked Government to reactivate the Afife Rice Project, which had remained un-operational for the past six years.

"Let me assure Government that our patience will not wear down any longer," he said at this year's annual Apernorto Festival of the chiefs and people of Mepe in the Volta Region.

Togbe Dapaah said since 2001 Government had reassured the people that it was looking for a strategic investor, adding: "It is our hope that Government will find a final solution to the problem this year, to offer employment to our youth."

The 52nd festival, which was marked with a durbar of chiefs and the people, was an occasion to foster unity and plan for the development of the traditional area.

Togbe Dapaah also appealed to the Government to tar the Mepe-Accra-Aflao road via Dove.

This he said would reduce the cost of travelling through Sege and Sokagope to Adidome.

The Divisional Chief asked for support for Mepe Kindergarten school as well as the local St Kizito Secondary Technical school through the posting of qualified teachers and learning aids. Togbe Dapaah cautioned against the practice of child labour along the Volta Lake, where parents give out their children for exploitation for financial reward.

He asked the people to pay a levy of 10,000 cedis (One Ghana cedi) each towards the provision of a two billion-cedi (2,000,000 Ghana cedis) water project by Government and donor partners for communities along the Volta lake like Mepe, Degorme, Lukunu, Avukpoe and Kedzikope. Togbe Korsi Hottor III, Stool Father of the Battor Paramountcy consoled the people of Mepe for the death of their Paramount Chief, Togbega Anipati IV.

Togbe Hottor, who represented Togbega Patamia Dzekle VII, Paramount Chief of Battors appealed to the youth to eschew indiscipline by according respect to the elderly and people in authority. Mr Moses Asem, District Chief Executive of North Tongu announced a number of development interventions for the area including the Rural Enterprise Programme, District Water Project and the provision of educational facilities. 05 Aug. 07