Boso-Gua (E/R), Oct. 2, GNA - The Minister of Information, Mr Dan Botwe, has called on the people in the Boso-Gua Traditional Area to embrace the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) and the Free Compulsory Universal Basic Education (FCUBE) policies of government to ensure their improved living conditions.

He, therefore, asked those adults yet to register under NHIS in the Asuogyaman District to do so to obtain regular quality health, while all parents should take advantage of the fee-free basic education to enrol all their school-going age children in school. Mr Botwe, who was the guest of honour at the celebration of this year's Boso Odwegyi (Yam) Festival at Boso-Gua on Saturday, announced that, government had allocated 250 million cedis towards the construction of a clinic in the town.

He assured them that the government would not hesitate to come to the aid of communities, which initiated self-help projects. Mr Botwe, who is a citizen of the area, asked the people to use the festival celebrations not only to exhibit their culture, but to inculcate good character traits into the youth for them to emulate their predecessors, who distinguished themselves in public service and education.

He cited the late A. L. Adu, a former Commonwealth of Nations' top official and Mrs Elizabeth Okoo, a renowned teacher, as some of such citizens of the area.

The Minister noted that when the youth were imbued with good character formati on, it would spread to influence the nation's peace and development.

Mr Botwe noted the presence of paramount chiefs from other traditional areas in the region to grace the festival, as an acknowledgement of the peace prevailing in the area, which he said, should be maintained by all citizens of the area.

The Paramount Chief of Boso-Gua, Nana Osei Nyarko III, in a welcome address, called on the people to eschew lawlessness by not taking undue advantage of the democratic dispensation in the country to abuse the human rights of others.

He expressed concern about recent high rate of road accidents in the country and the spread of the HIV/AIDS and called on all stakeholders to check the menace brought about by the two incidents. An executive member of the Boso Youth Association, Mr Opare Obisaw, who commended the government for voting 250 million cedis for the local clinic project, said the people had raised 50 million cedis last year towards it, adding that, funds to be raised during the festival would be used to support the project. He announced that the association launched the Boso Education Fund last year and realised 85 million cedis, saying, 45 million cedis out of it would be used this year to offer ten scholarships to four JSS students and six SSS students.

Mr Obisaw appealed to the government for more streetlights, renovation of a bridge and drains in the town. Among the paramount chiefs, who attended the occasion was the President of the Eastern Regional House of Chiefs, Nene Narh Dawutey Ologo VI, Kornor of Yilo Krobo, the Okuapehene Oseadeeyo Addo Dankwa III, the Anumhene, Nana Appiah Kumi II and Togbe Agbi Yaw, Dufia of Kpalime Duga.

Others were delegations representing paramount chiefs of the New Juaben, Akim Kotoku, Akyem Bosome, and Kwahu, while among the goodwill messages sent to the chiefs and people included one sent by the Asantehene Otumfuo Osei Tutu Other dignitaries included the District Chief Executive for Asogyaman, Mr Emmanuel Ntow Bediako and Mr Edward Adu Aboagye, DCE for Akuapem North.