President John Dramani Mahama on Saturday, August 29, 2015 joined the Chiefs and people of Ziope traditional Area in the Agotime-Ziope district of the Volta region to celebrate their annual Agbleza (farming) festival.

The Agbleza festival was instituted to celebrate the unique contribution of the people of Ziope towards the socio-economic development of the country and also raise funds to support developmental projects.

Addressing the event, President Mahama said his government is to relaunch the Youth in Agriculture programme, under the new Youth Employment Agency (YEA) in order to boost young people’s interest in that sector.

He urged the youth in the area to take advantage of the programme to improve their livelihood.

The Paramount Chief of the area, Torgbui Binnah Lawluvi VI, who is also the Volta region representative on the Council of State, commended the government for the numerous developmental projects ongoing in the area, including the rehabilitation of an irrigation dam to boost agricultural production, which is the main occupation of inhabitants.