Worawora (Volta Region) -- A grand durbar of Chiefs and people of Worawora in the Jasikan District of the Volta Region was held on Saturday to mark the celebration of their annual Akwantutenten Festival.

The people celebrate the festival annually to remember their migration from Kuntunase in the Ashanti Region to their present abode. Addressing the festival on behalf of President J. A. Kufuor, Mr. Kwesi Owusu Yeboah, Volta Regional Minister, said the government was determined to create and preserve a state of law and order where citizens and non-citizens would feel free and safe to pursue their legitimate goals and objectives for personal and collective benefits.

He pointed out that the way to achieve national security and political stability was to enforce the laws of the country strictly to create in the people a credible psychology of fear and respect for the laws and Constitution of the country rather than the fear of one man and his co-hosts, who are apostles of populist incitement of lawlessness and indiscipline.

He said the government was committed to an equitable distribution of national resources with emphasis on rural development. President Kufuor announced that the Kpeve-Hohoe road had been awarded on contract to Gbewa contractors at the cost of 7.26 billion cedis, adding that work is expected to start from November this year.

He said the Kpando-Worawora-Dambai road on contract to Belfinger Contractors would also start before the close of the year, adding that the first phase of the project was intended to cover a distance of 50 kilometres from Tapa-Abotoase.

The President said the department has advertised the construction of a motor road from Worawora to Kogokrom. On communication, he said work has began on a 60 channel system each for Jasikan and Kejebi districts as an interim telecommunication arrangement.

He said the two systems at Jasikan and Kejebi are to be connected to satellite areas within a radius of 60 kilometres by using remote radio system. President Kufuor said the government has signed a 1.5 billion cedis contract with Cerese Electricals to convert the single-phase electricity system at Worawora to a three-phase system.

On the Oti Rice Mill at Worawora, the President said a comprehensive profile on a viable rice industry centred on the Oti Rice Mill has been prepared and presented by an industrialisation advisory group.

He congratulated the chiefs and people for maintaining peace and order in the traditional area and wished them a happy celebration. Daasebre Osei Bonsu 11, Ashanti Mamponghene who deputised for Otumfuo Osei Tutu, Asantehene advised the people of Worawora to cultivate the spirit of oneness and contribute towards the development of the area.

He called for the revival of cultural and traditional activities of the people. Daasebre Asare Baah 111, Paramount chief of the Worawora Traditional Area appealed to the government to create a separate region for the district in the northern sector of the Volta Region to speed up development.

He called for the creation of a separate district within the Jasikan District to be known as Biakoye, adding that the coverage was too large for its administration. Daasebre Asare called for the rehabilitation of roads and schools in the area. The occasion was used to launch the Worawora Education Endowment Fund.