Tema, June 25, GNA -- Queen Sheba-Ra III, Queen of Sheba from Nubia in Ethiopia, on Monday called on African chiefs to unite with a common goal to seek the welfare of their people.

She noted that united African traditional leaders would see themselves as one people with a peculiar role to shape the lives of Africans.

Queen Sheba-Ra made the call at a durbar of chiefs, traditional leaders and people of Ga-Adangbes at Tema.

The durbar was to jointly honour her and Miss Sarah Naa Adoley Addo, winner of "Ghana's Most Beautiful 2008", a reality TV3 show to promote Ghanaian culture.

She said African chiefs had the responsibility to lead the people to the future and that could only be achieved through unity adding, "unity of Africans must come from the heart."

Queen Sheba-Ra said traditional leaders must always remember and understand their history to effectively pass on their culture to the next generation.

Calling on the people to promote peace in their communities, she said Ghanaians had the responsibility to take care of each other. "We cannot ask God to protect us if we are not ready to change to allow peace to prevail among us," she added. Nii Adjei Kraku II, Tema Mantse reiterated the need for unity among the natives of Greater Accra Region and called on all traditional leaders to support Queen Sheba-Ra's project of uniting African chiefs and queens.

He congratulated Ms Addo for representing the Region in the competition and showcasing the culture of Ga-Adangbes. Nii Kraku urged her to be a role model to girls in the Region. Nii Tetteh Otu II, Kpone Mantse and President of Greater Accra Region House of Chiefs, called on African Governments to free their people from the 'mental slavery' of depending on aids and grants from other continents but rather manage their resources. He noted that until Africans appreciated and patronized goods manufactured on the continent, they would continue to lack behind in development.

Nii Armah Ashitey, Former Tema Municipal Chief Executive advised chiefs to desist from fuelling disputes as it destroyed communities. He said chiefs must rather concentrate on educating their people and keeping their communities clean. Ms Addo expressed appreciation to her numerous fans for their support.

She appealed to them for their assistance to help in the implementation of her project of promoting welfare of the physically challenged in the country. 25 June 08