Gbledi-Gborgame (V/R), Nov 07, GNA - Mr Kofi Dzamesi, the Volta Regional Minister, at the weekend said it was unpatriotic for some segment of the public to perpetually engage in campaign of misinformation and mis-education about the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS).

Their intention, he said, was to frustrate the smooth implementation of the scheme obviously for political reasons and apparently to thwart the effort of the government in actualizing its campaign message on the scheme.

Mr Dzamesi said the government was poised to ensuring that the scheme was fully implemented despite the initial problem so that health financing becomes affordable.

Mr Dzamesi was addressing the maiden Afadzato Agumadza Festival of the chiefs and people of Gbledi Traditional Area and Fodome Ahor at the foot of the Afadzato Agumadza Mountain at Gbledi Gborgame in the Hohoe District.

The celebration of the Afadzato Agumadza festival was to create awareness and help market the Eco-tourism and Community Forest Conservation Project being undertaken by the community to sustain the environment and natural resources along the Afadzato Agumadza mountain range.

It was under the auspices of the Ghana Wildlife Society with support from the Netherlands government.

Mr Dzamesi appealed to the people to guard against disease and "those elements who lack the moral and political courage to turn around the fortunes of the country".

Mr John-Peter Amewu, the Hohoe District Chief Executive, said the Afadzato Agumadza festival was an innovation and a commendable feat that aimed at conserving the forest, eco-tourism and the aesthetic importance of the area.

He said the district assembly was committed to a firm tourism foundation and exploiting marketing avenues to make the district the hub of tourism in the country.

Mr Charles Obeng, Volta Regional Manager of the Ghana Tourist Board, appealed to communities along the mountain range to emulate the Gbledi/Fodome Ahor example to protect the environment. Togbega Homatekpor V, Paramount Chief of Gbledi Traditional Area, said the conservation area covers twelve miles square and has not experienced any bush fire since its inception in 1998.

He appealed to the Hohoe District Assembly to construct access road to the area, expedite action on promulgation of a by-law to conserve and protect the forest, while inviting investors to come on board.