Kumasi, Sept 9, GNA - Togbe S.K. Fugah, President of the Voltarians Co-ordinating Council (VCC), has appealed to Voltarians born and bred outside the Volta Region have been advised not to downplay their native culture in favour of foreign cultures.

He said they should take pride in their culture, cherish it and identify with their traditional practices and values. He was speaking at an emergency meeting of the VCC in Kumasi to plan and prepare for the "Amu Za", a festival of people of the Volta Region.

The festival, which will last for seven days and scheduled for Kumasi in October this year, would showcase the rich culture of the Volta Region in the form of drumming and dancing and other traditional performances.

It will also serve as an avenue to showcase economic works of people of the Volta Region resident in the Ashanti Region. Mr Young Atippoe, Chairman of the Planning Committee of the festival, appealed to all Voltarians in the region not only to be part of the festival but also encourage the young ones to also participate in it.

Mr Hope Heheya, secretary to the Council of Volta Chiefs/Heads in the Ashanti region, said even though the chiefs were poised to contribute to make the festival a success, the planning committee still needed assistance from various organisations to complement their efforts.

He appealed to charitable organisations, companies and individuals to assist them to ensure the success of the festival.