Peki-Blengo (Volta Region) -- Mr. Kwasi Owusu-Yeboa, Volta Regional Minister, on Thursday urged the German government to adopt the region for development and private sector investment to maintain that country's cultural and economic heritage there.

He also appealed to the German authorities to provide technical assistance for the preparation of a master plan for the economic development of the region.

Mr Owusu-Yeboa was speaking at a durbar to mark the 155th anniversary of the arrival of the Reverend Lorenz Wolf to the town to start evangelisation, which crystallised into the founding of the Evangelical Presbyterian (E. P) Church, Ghana, at Peki-Blengo.

He called for the introduction of the celebration of a German-Ghana week every year, to deepen the cordial relationship between the two countries.

Mr. Owusu-Yeaboa said the work of German missionaries helped in developing the Peki area but expressed regret about the fall in educational standards and the rapid socio-economic decline.

He, therefore, commended the Peki Citizens Union and the Traditional Council for initiating measures to address the problems.

Mr. Bernard Duose, President of the Union, said it had presented an economic development plan of the area to the German government through the Volta Regional Co-ordinating Council.

Dr. Anne Wagner, Head of Consular Section at the German Embassy in Accra, acknowledged the good works of German missionaries, which enabled the area to produce distinguished scholars.

She said the German government had rehabilitated the Peki Teacher Training College, initiated a forestry development programme and sent medical personnel to the Battor Hospital as part of efforts to improve the people's standards of living.

Dr. Wagner advised the Peki Union to liaise with the appropriate authorities to present its investment proposals for discussion at meeting to be held between Ghana and Germany soon.

Togbe Kwadzo Dei XI, Paramount Chief of the Peki Traditional Area, said the work of German Missionaries at Peki, which started on November 14, 1847 at the instigation of Togbe Kwadzo Dei II, formed the bases for the people's progress.

Rev. Wolf started a Church and the first formal school at Peki-Blengo and also worked at Keta, Adaklu-Waya and Anyako all in the region as a missionary.