Takpo (W/R), April 5, GNA - Mr. Mahmud Khalid, the Upper West Regional Minister, has expressed worry about the dying culture in the north, saying virtues of hard work, honesty, transparency and accountability that were embodiment of the cultural heritage had all been neglected. He said greed and self-centred interests had taken the better part of the people and that had led to conflict situations in the north. He therefore called on stakeholders, especially traditional rulers, civil society organisations, educational institutions and religious organisations to combine efforts to inculcate good habits and morals in the youth to reverse the trend.

Mr. Khalid was addressing the chiefs and people of Takpo Traditional Area in the Nadowli District at the 15th annual "Willa" festival held at Takpo on Saturday.

He said the demands of modern life had done a lot of damage to the cultural heritage of the people and urged them to hold fast to their cultural heritage for the benefit of future generations. He reminded people that under-development, deprivation and poverty challenges that they were faced should be of concern to them and they must avoid dissipating their energies and resources in fomenting confusion and acrimony.

Mr. Khalid advised the people that in spite of any differences that might exist among them, they should let peace, unity and understanding be the binding force in whatever situation they might find themselves. He urged the people to continue to give more attention to education at all levels by demonstrating their commitment to supporting their children in school.

District assemblies in the region should also invest more in education by providing structures, reading materials and equipment for children to enhance teaching and learning. Mr. Khalid said the Ministry of Food and Agriculture in the Nadowli District would cultivate 100 hectares of soyabeans during the 2010 farming season.

It would also develop 500 hectares for maize, 100 hectares for rice and 100 hectares for sorghum within the period.

He appealed to the youth to register with the ministry to benefit from the package to help reduce the high level of poverty in the region. Mr. Abu Kasanbata, District Chief Executive of Nadowli, said the assembly had provided 1,000 Ghana cedis to renovate a house for use as a police station at Takpo.

He said government, in collaboration with Global Fund, had also provided mechanised boreholes for the people of Meguo and Mantari communities. He said the Ghana Education Trust Fund was financing some day nursery projects in selected communities in the Takpo Traditional Area while efforts were being made to connect electricity to the area to encourage the establishment of cottage industries. The Takpo-Naa, Alexander Widana II, appealed for the rehabilitation of roads and the provision of a dam in the area for irrigation. He also appealed to government to establish a senior high secondary/technical school for his people.