Agona Swedru, March 12, GNA - Agona District Assembly has honoured six prominent citizens from the area for their contributions to the development of agriculture, education, sports, tourism, employment and provision of potable water.

They are Reverend Professor Emmanuel Addo-Obeng, Vice Chancellor of University of Cape Coast, Madam Efuah Fremponmaah 2004 National Best Farmer, Mr Fredrick Osam Duodu, Coach of the National Under-17 Team and a CAF Instructor.

The rest honoured posthumously were; Nana Kwame Eyiah, Managing Director of K. E. and Sons, E. K. Bensah, First Member of Parliament for Agona and Minister for Works and Housing during the First Republic and Nana Kojo Amoakwa, First Chief of Agona Duakwa. They were given citations in their various fields that raised the image of the district since 1957.

Mr Ben Mensah, Agona District Chief Executive said the awards, which formed part of activities marking the Golden Jubilee celebration of Ghana's Independence in the district was instituted to encourage and inspire others to emulate them.

He urged the youth to emulate their leadership qualities that helped to transform the living standards of the people. Rev Prof Addo-Obeng on behalf of the recipients expressed appreciation to the assembly for the honour.

He said authorities of UCC had completed plans to turn Distance Learning Centres in the country into campuses of the university to enable more teachers and school leavers upgrade themselves. The Vice Chancellor appealed to chiefs and landowners to release lands for the project.

Rev. Prof. Addo-Obeng stressed on the importance of education and called on parents to endeavour to invest in their children's education to become good and responsible citizens in society. Nana Okofo Katakyi Nyakoh Eku X, Omanhene of Nyakrom Traditional Area, called for peace, unity and understanding among the people to accelerate socio-economic development in the country.