The Dormaa State on Saturday realised GH¢405,816 .00 out of a targeted amount of GH¢500,000.00 from a fund-raising at the first ever Dormaaman Easter Congress at Wamanafo in the Dormaa-East District of the Brong Ahafo Region.

The Congress was aimed at raising the amount as seed money for the establishment of farming and agro-business ventures for socio-economic development and transformation of the State.

The economic initiative, a brainchild of Osagyefo Oseadeeyo Agyemang Badu II, Dormaahene, is to create employment for the teeming unemployed youth in the Dormaa Traditional Area and thereby check their movements to urban centres for non-existing jobs.

The move is targeted at setting up six major enterprises comprising commercial irrigation maize farming, re-afforestation, construction of silos, creating an egg market, egg crate production and plastic production for the sachet water industry.

Osagyefo Badu II, said, traditional rulers among other functions existed particularly to complement the role of government to ensure socio-economic development.

He appealed to the citizens of Dormaa State to be committed and patriotic in assisting the traditional council to get the expected amount for the commencement and realisation of the development goal.

Osagyefo Agyemang Badu II, appealed to corporate organisations, private businesses concerned and philanthropists to come to the aid of the council.

He expressed appreciation to President John Evans Atta Mills for the creation of Dormaa-West District with Nkrankwanta as capital, acknowledging that, former President John Agyekum Kufuor extended similar gesture to the traditional area by creating the Dormaa-East District from the Dormaa Municipality.

Mrs Cecilia Johnson, Member of the Council of State, who represented the President at the function, expressed government’s commitment to support the economic initiative of the Dormaahene.

She said, no meaningful development could take place without peace and unity in the society, saying the Dormaa Traditional Area is noted for maintenance of stability and urged the people to maintain the status quo.

She noted that, the second phase of the biometric registration exercise had started and entreated the people to be part of the process and to ensure that it was peaceful and successful.

The Council of State Member, expressed gratitude to the Dormaahene and the Traditional Council for allocating a large tract of land for the construction of infrastructural facilities for a satellite campus of Brong Ahafo University of Energy and Natural Resources, at Dormaa-Ahenkro.

Barima Dei Kusi Gyabaah II, Chairman of the Congress Planning Committee, said traditional leaders formerly fought for lands to expand their domain but currently their prime duty is to bring about socio-economic development.

Barima Gyabaah who is also the Chief of Amaasu and the Ankobiahene of Dormaa, said the initiative, was therefore in fulfillment of the traditional council’s primary responsibility to augment government’s efforts.**