Accra, July 11, GNA - Nii Nortey Owuo III, Osu Mantse on Friday appealed to the youth to avoid violence and rather protect the heritage of Osu to bequeath to future generation a befitting state. "The more we delay in taking stand to protect our heritage, the more we lose our lands and therefore, our ability to train our youth to be responsible, productive citizens and thus even lose our dignity". Nii Owuo III said this at a meeting with the youth and people of the Osu Township to deliberate and find a lasting solution to chieftaincy squabbles in the area as they prepared for this year's Homowo Festival slated for August 26, 2008.

"The entire people of Osu shall celebrate this year's Homowo in grand style. We shall on that day, set all the unnecessary rivalry aside, proceed as the one people that we are; hold hands together, visit one another, eat from each other's home", he said. Nii Owuo said all efforts must be geared towards developing the area and its citizens adding, "Social and economic development of Osu is stunted as a result of our differences and rivalries, on traditional leadership".

He said as the people celebrated Homowo this year, they should bear in mind that, "We shall not only literally be hooting at hunger, we should also be hooting at the petty squabbles and dissentions in our society. We should be hooting at poverty, laziness and underdevelopment from our society".

Activities for the 2008 Osu Homowo Festival, which starts from Thursday July 3 to Sunday November 2, 2008 include luncheon, street carnival, durbar, state dance, clean up, purification and thanksgiving service. 11 July 08