Accra, Aug. 9, GNA - The people of the Paga Traditional Area in the Kassena Nankana District of the Upper East Region would launch their annual Fuo festival in the Greater Accra Region aimed at raising funds towards the development of the area.

Pe Charles Awompaga, Paramount Chief of the Paga Traditional Area, who was speaking to the Ghana News Agency in an interview in Accra, said the main purpose of the Accra launch scheduled for August 27, was to mobilise Paga citizens resident in Accra, Tema and other areas to pool resources towards the construction of a secondary school for the area. Pe Awampaga said Paga had been without a secondary school for a very long time and that it was necessary for "us to help ourselves before the government and others come in to assist".

He said apart from sourcing funds for the school, the traditional values of the area would also be showcased so that, non-citizens would appreciate the need to visit there as tourists.

Pe Awompaga appealed to all citizens of the area resident in any part of the country to commit themselves towards the development of the area to ensure that Paga got a secondary school in due time. "Let the rapid development of Paga and its surrounding communities begin with us by contributing towards the commencement of the secondary school to help our children" he said.

Mr Kwame Alou, Accra/Tema Interim Regional Secretary of the Planning Committee of the launching, called on those who had not yet paid their contribution to do so to ensure a successful launch. He appealed to nongovernmental organisations and other bodies to assist the Chiefs and people of Paga in their efforts to construct the school.

The Fuo festival is an annual event celebrated among the people of the Kassena Nankana District after harvesting in the months of December and January. 9 August 05