Zini (U/W), April 26, GNA - The chiefs and elders of the Buwa Traditional Council in the Sissala West District have appealed to the government to establish an Agricultural/Technical School in the area to prevent the youth from migrating to urban areas. They said that the area had a vast arable land but was not properly exploited due to poverty and lack of expertise in modern farming methods on the part of the people especially the youth. Kuoro Barecheh Nlowie Baniye II, the Divisional Chief of Niator and Acting President of the Buwa Traditional Council made the appeal on behalf of the people during the maiden celebration of the Buwaala Kelwie festival on Sunday at Zini.

He said the reason for creating the festival was to promote peace, unity and diversity among the people in the district. The chief who expressed gratitude to the government for the provision of educational infrastructure and subsidies in Agricultural inputs also appealed to the government for an ICT centre to connect the people of the area to the rest of the world. On electricity, Kuoro Baninye said the area had about 34 communities but noted that currently only three, namely; Fielmua, Zini and Peplime were connected to the national grid. He therefore appealed to the government to try and get the rest of the communities connected.

Mr Cezar Kale, the Upper West Deputy Regional Minister commended the chiefs and people of the area for organising the festival, saying it would not only strengthen family bonds but also give them the opportunity especially the youth to know their history. He urged them to use the festival to settle all disputes, make new friends, promote the use of their indigenous language which was one of the key identities of people and encourage inter-cultural marriages as a tool for eliminating conflicts. He said the government had expanded the National Youth Employment Programme (NYEP) by introducing new modules such as the ICT and the Youth in Agriculture Programme and urged the youth to take advantage of the programme. He said government was committed to ensuring a holistic development across the country and assured the people that all their concerns had been noted and would receive the appropriate attention in due course.

Mr Haruna Bayirga, the Member of Parliament (MP) for the area urged the elders to encourage children to take part in the celebration of the festival to ensure its sustainability. He appealed to the elders of Gandawi to ensure that they get a new Paramount Chief by the end of the year to replace the late Kuoro Doctorwie Ninia, Paramount Chief of the Zini Traditional Area who died last year.

Mr Robert Bakah Wavei, the Sissala West District Chief Executive, pledged the Assembly's commitment to respond to the needs of the people at all times. 26 April 11