Keta, Aug. 20, GNA - Professor Kofi Awoonor, Chairman of the Council of State, on Thursday urged chiefs and opinion leaders in Anlo to stand by the truth and bury their differences to enhance the development of the area.

He said economic advancement was impossible without peace as no one would invest his cherished capital in an environment with divisions, conflicts and instability. Professor Awoonor was opening a day's development conference for stakeholders at Keta to brainstorm and chart a course for the area's development. He advised the people to see peace as a major development prerequisite adding that attitudes needed to be in tandem with the desire for progress. Professor Awoonor commended the organizers for initiating the conference and appealed to Members of Parliament in the Volta Region to unite and use their expertise to promote progress in all parts of the region.

Mr Joseph Amenowode, Volta Regional Minister, said the conference underscored the role of municipal and district assemblies in the development process. He said he was amazed by the interest shown in the conference as a reawakening platform for development and that the Volta Regional Coordinating Council (VRCC) would organize a similar conference at the regional level. "Assemblies cannot do alone without the support and cooperation of other citizens in the spirit of private-public partnership," he said. The region, Mr Amenowode said, had personalities with experiences that must be brought on board to harness the abundant natural resources to accelerate development. He urged the people of Keta to participate in the process devoid of partisan politics and properly coordinate its implementation. Mr Amenowode proposed the setting up of a foundation into which all citizens of the municipality could send donations for development purposes.

He announced that a regional development and trade fair would be organized in Ho in November this year to exhibit the trade and investment potentials of the region. Mr Sylvester Tornyeava, Keta Municipal Chief Executive, said the area had potentials for tourism, salt, agricultural and fishing opportunities, adding that the assembly was strongly geared towards improving the municipality's micro economy, reduce unemployment and improve education and health. The conference was attended by personalities including Dr Audrey Gadzekpo, Lecturer in Communications at the University of Ghana, Mr Alex Segbefia, Deputy Chief of Staff, Mr Samuel Okudzeto-Ablakwa, Deputy Minister of Information and Major Courage Quashigah (Rtd), a Minister in the previous government. They discussed issues on tourism, agriculture and health among other things.