Accra, Nov.5 GNA- The 5th Kpalikpa za festival of the Chiefs and people of Kpalime Traditional area was on Saturday launched in Accra with a call on the people in the South Dayi District of the Volta Region to unite in order to move the development of the area forward.

Mr. Stephen Asamoah Boateng, Deputy Minister of Tourism and Modernisation of the Capital City, who launched the festival, urged the various ethnic groups in the district to put aside their differences and unite for the total development of the area. The festival, which is celebrated in the first week of December each year, is in remembrance of the valour exhibited by their ancestors in course of their migration to the present place of settlement. The theme for this year's event is: "Development is everyone's concern"

Mr Asamoah Boateng urged the people to make education in the area their number one priority as well as contribute towards provision of school buildings, water and electricity. He said traditional authorities; churches and the community should be integrated if the campaign to raise the standard of education in the area is to succeed. Mr. Asamoah Boateng called for regular interaction between members of the Kpalime Development Union in order to understand themselves and strategise for development back home.

Dr Kwame Ampofo, Member of Parliament (MP) for South Dayi appealed for peaceful co-existence among all the four ethnic groups in the area. He said the union should use the festival as time for stock taking and come out with programmes and activities to improve the lives of the people in the traditional area. He also urged union to make education their major priority, adding that education was the only tool that could transform the fortunes of the children in the area and give them a better future.