Sunyani, Sept 23, GNA - Mr. Kwadwo Nyamekye Marfo, the Brong-Ahafo Regional Minister, on Friday inaugurated a 29-member Regional Planning Committee that will organize the 2012 National Festival of Arts and Culture (NAFAC) in the Region.

The committee has the Regional Minister as chairman and Nana Bofo Bene IV, the Chief of Dwenem, as the Vice Chairman.

Mr Eric Opoku, the Deputy Regional Minister and Mr Felix Chaahaah, Regional Coordinating Director, are members. Other members were drawn from Ghana National Fire Service, Public Work= s Department, Zoomlion, Volta River Authority, Ghana Broadcasting Corporation= , Ministry of Women and Children's Affairs, Ghana Journalists' Associatio= n and the Ministry of Food and Agriculture.

The rest are Information Services Department, Hoteliers Association, Regional House of Chiefs, Ghana Water Company, Ghana Education Service, Ghana Private Road Transport Union, Craftsmen, MUSIGA, Catholic University College of Ghana, Tourism Board, Police Service and Ghana Health Service. Mr Nyamekye Marfo appealed to the members to come out with an appropriate theme for the festival and to work to ensure its successful organisation to bring honour to the region.

Recounting the history of NAFAC Mr. Waksmann Azaanab, the Brong-Ahafo Regional Director of Centre for National Culture, said it was initiated in 1960 to create national consciousness on the values of culture and festival= s in Ghana. It was also to serve as a market for Made-in-Ghana goods and to promot= e culture and diversity. Nana Bofo Bene expressed gratitude for the confidence reposed in them and promised to ensure the successful organisation of the event.