Axim(W/R), Sept. 14, GNA - Mr. Paul Evans Aidoo, Western Regional Minister, has urged Ghanaians to revisit the era of communal labour and initiate self-help projects in the communities to enhance development. He indicated that the communal spirit of yester-year has declined considerably and that this has had a negative impact on development in the communities.

Mr. Aidoo said this when he was addressing a durbar of chiefs and people of Axim to climax this year's Kundum festival on Saturday. Mr. Aidoo appealed to the people to pay special attention to environmental sanitation because "if we keep our environment clean, we can prevent a lot of diseases that affect us". He stressed that most of the flooding in the region were as a result of the neglect of sanitation rules by the citizenry, thereby choking the drains with filth and also building on waterways. He therefore cautioned them to desist from such attitudes, to enhance their well-being.

Mr. Aidoo noted that the region over the years had experience poor road network which had been worsened recently due to heavy rains. He urged the various assemblies to make the roads motorable through the assistance of the feeder roads departments within their respective districts, while government tackles the major ones. Mr. Aidoo advised the inhabitants not to engage in conflicts which could retard the development of the region and the country as a whole. He indicated that the oil find could be a curse if traditional authorities did not unite, and reminded them that plans had been put in place to ensure that the entire region benefited equitably from the proceeds of the oil industry.

"The peaceful co-existence that prevails in the region should not be destroyed", he added.

Mrs. Catherine Affeku, Member of Parliament for Axim, appealed for the rehabilitation of the Axim Girls Senior High School, the only girls school which was constructed by the community some years ago. Awulai Attibrukusu III, President of the Regional House of Chiefs, thanked government for solving the problem concerning premix fuel for fishermen in the fishing communities nationwide.