Santrokofi-Benua (V/R), June 7, GNA-Mr Alexander Asum-Ahensah, Minister of Chieftaincy and Culture at the weekend reminded Ghanaians on the need to rejuvenate and transcribe the spirit and values of traditional celebrations into transforming society for expressed national development.

"Let us remain true to our cultural values, respect leadership and with constructive discourse with government and preserve our cultural heritage and norms that unite us as a people", he added. Mr Asum-Ahensah was delivering the guest speaker's address at the 2009 Okyonsa festival of the Chiefs and people of Santrokofi in the Hohoe Municipality. Okyonsa marks the beginning of the traditional year and climaxes the ban on drumming and noise making and ushers in the period of outdooring of young women into adulthood, christened "Osiesa" or puberty rites.

The celebration, which was themed; "Okyonsa Festival: A Tool Uniting People for Development and Progress", was in aid of a traditional hall construction project. Mr Asum-Ahensah said "by words and deeds, let us demonstrate our commitment to translate the President's vision of national unity into realty" adding that it is only in unity that poverty and hunger could be eradicated. He appealed to the farming community of Santrokofi and farmers in general to take advantage of the mitigation measures introduced by government in the agricultural sector to increase food production for the local and international markets.

The Minister entreated parents to invest in and provide quality education for their children rather than directing their wealth into materialism and funerals. Mr Asum-Ahensah appealed passionately to Ghanaians in possession of paraphernalia and memorabilia of Osagyefo Dr Kwame Nkrumah to return them to the National Planning Committee to facilitate programmes for the 100th Anniversary celebration of the first President of Ghana. Mr Victor-Hermann Condobrey, Hohoe Municipal Chief Executive emphasized the enormous role of Chiefs to socio-economic development and reiterated government's revolve to partner with the chieftaincy institution for the needed rapid development. He urged the people to avoid ethnocentric tendencies and sacrifice their personal gains for that of societal growth and advancement.

Mr Condobrey asked the people to redirect positive attitudes to the environment to stem the unprecedented destruction of the environment and natural resources. He assured the people of equity in the distribution of resources towards ameliorating the inequality in the development chain. Nana Letsabi II, Balee Okakple (Paramount Chief) and President of Santrokofi Traditional Council said Okyonsa festival is a way of life and embodiment of the body, soul and spirit of "our past, present and future". He appealed to the government and the Hohoe Municipal Assembly to construct the five-kilometre Benua-Tankala Feeder road to facilitate haulage and carting of foodstuffs to the market centres and rehabilitate the mud school blocks in Gbodome, Benua and Bume.

Nana Letsabi appealed to investors to explore the granite and sand deposits suitable for road and housing industries to set up a quarry to create jobs for the teeming youth. He said the community, through self-help initiatives would construct a traditional hall and offices and establish a vocational centre to train and equip the youth with skills. Twelve citizens of the area who distinguished themselves were honoured and an appeal for funds yielded 3,400 Ghana Cedis.