Kpetoe, April 10, GNA - The chiefs and people of Agotime Traditional Area on Saturday conferred an honorary queen-mother status on Mrs Juliana Azumah Mensah, Minister of Tourism under the title Nana Benyo II.

Mrs Azumah Mensah also Member of Parliament (MP) for Adaklu-Anyigbe becomes the queen in charge of development in the traditional area. Her new positions were conferred on her at a victory rally organized by the chiefs and people in her honour. Nene Nuer Keteku III, Konor of the Agotime Traditional Area who presided over the ceremony, described Mrs Azumah Mensah as an intelligent and hardworking woman whose appointment to the Tourism Ministry has become a source of inspiration to young people especially girls in the Traditional Area.

He said Mrs Azumah Mensah had brought honour to the Traditional Area which would support her in developing its tourism potentials and that of the country.

Nene Nuer Keteku commended President John Evans Atta Mills for appointing "a daughter of Agotime land" and said the community was grateful for the honour.

Mr Elvis Ativor, a Representative of the Youth in the Traditional Area said the appointment of Mrs Azumah Mensah "suddenly created optimism" among the youth in the district and expressed the hope that the Minister succeeds in her role as a Minister. Mrs Azumah Mensah expressed gratitude to the chiefs and people of the Area for the confidence reposed in her for renewing her mandate as their MP.

She noted that it was that "push" and her work in Parliament that attracted the attention of the President. Mrs Azumah Mensah said her topmost priority would be to promote domestic tourism and market Ghana's Kente which she described as of very high quality.

She advised students especially girls to take their education serious and win their places in decision-making at all levels in the country. Mr Joseph Amenowode, Volta Regional Minister urged supporters of the National Democratic Congress to accept the President's nominees for Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives in good faith. He said this is because the President made those nominations in his own wisdom and would not hesitate to terminate the appointment of non-performers. There were goodwill message from the Volta Region Parliamentary caucus and other friends.