The Central Regional Minister, Mr Kojo Yankah and the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Cape Coast, Professor S.K. Adjepong, left Accra last night for Maryland, United states on a week-long tour as guests of the University of Maryland Eastern Shore. The two will sign a memorandum of understanding with the president of the University of Maryland Eastern Shore, Dr Dolores Spikes. They will also discuss further areas of collaboration between the University of Cape Coast and the Central Regional Development Commission (CEDECOM) on one hand and the Maryland University on the other. About two months ago, a four-member team from the American university paid a 10-day working visit to the Central Region and expressed interest in collaborating with CEDECOM and the University of Cape Coast as partners. The partnership will enable the parties to benefit from a new United States Agency for International Development (USAID) programme known as "institutional partnerships in higher education for international development". The goal of the initiative is to create an enabling environment which fosters new relationships among the private sector, local communities, the University of Maryland, the University of Cape Coast and CEDECOM to improve the socio-economic development of the people. Mr Yankah told newsmen that he would be accompanied later by Ghana's Ambassador to the United States, Mr Kobby Koomson, to promote "Emancipation Day '98 and PANAFEST '99 in six cities in the United States. Emancipation day will be celebrated for the first time in Ghana this year from July 25 to August two to commemorate the formal abolition of cartel slavery in British colonies on August one, 1843.