Accra, Feb 11, GNA - Vice President John Dramani Mahama has called on northerners to use their festivals as the springboard for unity and development, rather than nurturing negative tendencies that undermine peace and prosperity.

"Festivals are meant for taking stock of your performance in the previo= us year, surprisingly celebrating festivals in some parts of the north have come to mean the security agencies must be detailed to prevent petty squabbles and blood-shed which is very negative," he said. Vice President Mahama made the call during a symposium organised by the people of Gonjaland to herald the annual Yagbon Damba of the Gonjas and to mark the first anniversary of the enskinment of Yagbonwura Tuntumba Boresa, Paramount Chief of the Gonja Traditional Area.

The symposium was under the theme; 93Harnessing the resources of Gonjal= and for accelerated development."

He called on Gonjas throughout the country to eschew negative tendencies that escalate into petty conflicts.

"I do not see why chieftaincy and other social activities that are supposed to keep us as one people should be the catalyst of division." "As people from the north we have a duty of pulling our people out of poverty and ignorance, for the North needs not to be poor, it is because we are not taking our chances very well," the said. He said during General Kutu Acheampong's leadership the north was se= en as the food basket of the country and that he believed this could be done and done better.

Vice President Mahama called on them to take advantage of the Savannah Accelerated Development Authority project (SADA) to engage in agriculture and other programmes and projects that would pull them out of poverty. He warned against using political parties to undermine the orderly development projects that were springing up in the country. "It does not take only one political party to develop the nation and I urge you all to refrain from giving political titles to any development project initiated by any group of persons from the Gonjaland," Vice President Mahana said. Dr Foster Abu Sakara, a leading member of the Gonjaland Organizing Committee who spoke on strategies for overcoming development challenges in Gonjaland, said although the area had a lot of tourist sites, poor roads an= d inadequate infrastructure had over the years impeded their progress. He mentioned the famous Larabagna historical Mosque and mystic stone, the Damongo Game Reserve, the Salaga Slave market as some of the tourist sites that could be developed to generate income for the area and the government. Lepowura M.N.D Jawula, who spoke on the history, culture and traditions of the Gonja people, traced their history to the Songhai Empire in the 17th century during the reign of Askia Mohammed.

He said the Gonja had a unique tradition and respect for hierarchy which was reflected in their greetings, language and apparel especially the uniqu= e Gonja smock.