Accra, Aug. 9, GNA - Numo Tumonmli Yartey III, Chief of Nai We at Ga Mashie, on Wednesday urged Gas to use this year's Homowo festival to reconcile and unite as one people to enable them to develop their communities.

Speaking in an interview with the Ghana News Agency in Accra, as part of the celebration, Numo Yartey said: "Good fortune, blessings and reconciliation are my wishes in the coming years for us, Gas." He said the time for petty squabbles, acrimonies, disputes among various clans and people should be over by now because the Gas have come a long way and should not allow themselves to be destroyed. On the upcoming Homowo, he said preparation were far under way to make this year's festival a memorable one.

The festival, which starts from Friday August 11, 2006, would see major events such as, the yam festival for twins; sprinkling of "kpokpoi", traditional food made from maize and a gathering of chiefs to pray for long life and prosperity.

Numo Blafo Akotia Omaetu III, the Wulumo of the Asere We, said on Friday a journey would be embarked upon by the people of Asere to the ancestral village at Ofankor to offer sacrifice to their ancestral fathers and to ask for more blessings, prospects and protection in the coming years.

He said some relatives from Anehor in Togo would join in the travel to the village to perform the necessary sacrifice. The ancestral village was established by Ashagmo the great son of Okai Okoi during the war with the Akwamus.

He also advised that Gas should use the opportunity to bury their differences and unite as one family.