Essaso (E/R), Oct. 16, GNA - Four communities in the West Akim Municipality, in the Eastern Region, on Wednesday used the annual Ohumkyiri festival to call on their gods to ensure peaceful and stable General Election. The revellers drawn from Amanfrom, Kumikrom, Budu and Essaso near Abamkrom paid homage to Nana Obutu Frimpong, III, Chief, of Essaso Amanfrom at his palace, where the Chief Linguist and other traditional elders prayed for all the political parties to join forces with civil society groups to ensure peace before, during and after the December 7, Presidential and Parliamentary elections. They also prayed for the good health of the people and unity to facilitate development.

Nana Obutu observed that most African countries encounter conflicts during elections, hence the need for religious bodies to pray for God's intervention for peaceful, free and fair elections. He advised the youth not to allow any political party to influence them to engage in acts of violence. Nana Obutu said Ghana could achieve its development goals only when the existing peace was maintained. He expressed concern that only nine Junior High School (JHS) graduates in the area gained admission into Senior High Schools (SHS) in 2007, and five in 2008.

The chief challenged the people to take education seriously and urged them to take advantage of the Capitation Grant and the School Feeding Programme of the government to send their children to school.

Nana Obutu advised his subjects to invest in the education of their children since "education brings development and progress". He also expressed the need for the revival of the local Parent-Teacher Association to help promote quality education and the communal spirit to help provide some social amenities. Nana Obutu appealed to the government to reshape the feeder road network in the area, which spans the 7.9 kilometres Essaso-Timber Nkwanta and 11 kilometres Essaso-Abamkrom roads and construct bridges over the Osuben River.

Nana Obutu said the river had occupied a portion of the road and impeding vehicular traffic.

The Queenmother, Okrom Obenewaa II advised settler farmers in the area, to assist in the development of their localities. Madam Vida Amoako and Mr. Kofi Graham, assembly members in the area told the Ghana News Agency, in an interview that the people are being mobilised to assist in the construction of a clinic.

So far 200 blocks have been moulded through communal labour while iron rods have also been purchased for the project. Mr Graham appealed for bundles of corrugated roofing sheets from government and public spirited people to facilitate the completion of the clinic.