Akpafu-Odomi (V/R), April 8, GNA-Mr Kofi Dzamesi, Volta Regional Minister on Saturday urged chiefs and queens to be instruments of unity, social cohesion and development.

He asked them to eschew conducts that would divide the people and rather endeavour to be fulcrum around which socio-economic empowerment would churn.

Mr Dzamesi said this at the annual Rice Festival of the chiefs and people of Akpafu-Odomi in the Hohoe District.

The occasion under theme; " Culture preservation, water for life and education for progress " also coincided with the inauguration of a 1.5 billion cedis mechanized borehole water system with a yield capacity of 8.6 cubic meters per hour with eight outlet stand pipes. The Minister praised the chiefs and people for making such platforms for socio-economic development, urging them to use festivals to fight societal problems and vices.

He said avenues were being explored for large-scale production of " Akpafu Brown Rice" for export, appealing to the people to sustain the production level as a means of wealth creation.

Mr Dzamesi assured the people that government would continue to pursue policies that would improve on the social well-being of the populace for sustainable development, irrespective of ethnicity, voting patterns, creed or geographical locations.

He said the National Youth Employment Programme (NYEP) and the Millennium Challenge Account would provide employment avenues for the youth and enhance the profitability of commercial agriculture among small-scale farmers.

Mr Dzamesi advised the youth to live above reproach and eschew tendencies that were likely to jeopardize their future progression. Mr Hackman Owusu-Agyeman, Minister of Water Resources, Works and Housing in a speech read for him said government in collaboration with development partners were committed towards the provision of potable water to all communities as enshrined in the Ghana Poverty Reduction Strategy (GPRS) programme.

He said five per cent of the cost of the facility, being 74.7 million cedis was borne by the Akpafu-Odomi community with 95 per cent being taken up by the Danish International Development Agency (DANIDA). Mr Owusu-Agyeman urged the water board and other stakeholders to spearhead and sustain the colossal investment to prolong its lifespan. Ms Lena Yedra, Assemblywoman of the Area, on behalf of the people commended government and other partners for the facility. She pledged that all project directives on operation and maintenance would be upheld.

Ms Yedra expressed gratitude to the British High Commission for funding a one-story classroom complex at the cost of 11.7 billion cedis for the Area.

In a related development, Mr Dzamesi, earlier lauded the maiden Kateyrey (Iron) festival of the chiefs and people of Akpafu-Todzi. Nana Akuamoah IV, Chief of Kpodjia appealed for the rehabilitation of the town's school building, teachers' quarters and re-gravelling of access roads to the Akpafu communities.