Ho, Oct 12, GNA-The kingmakers of the Avatime Paramount stool have been implored to let peace and unity prevail in the choice of a successor to the late Osie Adja Tekpor VI, Paramount Chief of the Avatime traditional area.

Togbega Gabusu VI, President of the Volta Region House of Chiefs made the call at the formal declaration of a month-and-half period of mourning for the late Paramount Chief at a durbar of Chiefs and people of Avatime traditional area at Vane on Thursday.

The occasion also saw the commissioning of the first-phase of a multi-purpose community centre and the donation of five computers to the Avatime Secondary School by the government.

Togbega Gabusu said the chieftaincy institution in the Volta region in particular and Ghana in general was keenly interested in having a successor to Osie Adja Tekpor soon after his internment. He said the late Adjatekpor's legacy to the people of Avatime was the progress he brought to the traditional area when it came to the chieftaincy institution.

Togbega Gabusu lauded the pioneering role of the late Osie in the establishment of the Volta region House of Chiefs and the National House of Chiefs.

He called on communities in the region to lend unflinching support to their Chiefs rather than vilify them, considering the sacrificial position of chiefs in the region.

Mr Kofi Dzamesi, Volta Regional Minister said the late Adja Tekpor would be given a state burial in fulfilment of President J.A. Kufuor's promise to that effect.

"I will therefore ... interact with the Chiefs of Avatime as well as representatives of the Volta Region House of Chiefs in order to obtain a comprehensive brief on the preparation", he said.

"I am aware of the anxiety of the Avatime community over the road network in the area. I am glad to inform you that the Ho/Vane/Fume roads have been awarded on contract... and in due course of time physical signs will be seen", Mr Dzamesi assured.

He announced that the Community Based Rural Development Project (CBRDP) is to provide 150 million cedis grant to every Area council for the implementation of their priority projects.

Okusie, Akyemfoli VI, Senior divisional chief of the Avatime Traditional Area announced that the period of mourning for the late Osie Adja Tekpor would last from October 1, 2006 to November 18, 2006. He therefore called on the people in the traditional area to limit noise making to enable the traditional priest to carry out the necessary rites in solemnity.

Okusie Akyemfoli called on the people not to panic but go about their activities as usual as they witness the rich cultural heritage of the traditional area.

He said there would be laying in state from November 14 to 18 to be preceded by the paying of homage from August one to November 13. The burial service comes off on Saturday November 18 at the Vane JSS Park at 1100 hours, to be followed later the same day by private internment.

Thanksgiving Service would be on Sunday 19, November 2006 at the newly commissioned community centre at Vane at 0900 hours, with the final cultural rites taking place on Monday November 20 at 0830 hours. Okusie Akyemfoli said the late Osie Adja Tekpor, who passed away in 2004 ruled for 46 years, having been enstooled Osie on August 25, 1958. 12 Oct. 06