Kumasi Aug 22, GNA - The Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II has called on ethnic groups in the Ashanti Region to foster social harmony and peaceful co-existence towards development.

He said inter-ethnic unity was crucial for the sustenance of cultural and economic progress of the people.

Otumfuo Osei Tutu said these in an address read on his behalf by Nana Boakye Ansah Debrah, Asokore-Mamponghene, at a durbar of chiefs and people of the Fante community in Ashanti, organised on the theme: "Using ethnicity to promote national peace and cohesion", in Kumasi on Saturday.

It climaxed the second "Mfantse Day in Ashanti" festival, an event that commemorates the migration of Fantes to the Region. The Asantehene praised the Fantes for their contributions towards the socio-economic development of Asanteman.

Otumfuo Osei Tutu said "The contribution of players of Fante origin to the growth of Kumasi Asante Kotoko, Kumasi Cornerstone and other football clubs in the region, and contributions of other Fantes to health, education and economic development cannot be under-estimated". He called on leadership of the Fante community to seek the welfare of the people by initiating viable projects.

Mr Kofi Opoku-Manu, Ashanti Regional Minister, called on the various ethnic groups in the Region to do away with chieftaincy disputes to sustain the prevailing peace.

Nana Arkorful Owese, Head of Fante communities in Ashanti, said the Mfantseman Council would soon roll out a number of development programmes in the areas of education and health to promote the well-being of the people.