Asukwakwa — The President of the Krachi Traditional Council, Nana Mprah Besemunah III, has appealed to the government to carry out the regular spraying of black flies, which cause the dreaded eye disease, onchocerciasis, and is causing harm to his subjects at Asukwakwa and its environs in the Krachi-East District.

According to the Krachiwura, the black flies were making it impossible for the people to increase productivity.

Nana Mprah Besemunah, who made the appeal at the Odwira festival of the chiefs and people of Asukwakwa, stressed that the people of Asukwakwa were living happily at their original place of abode called Akrosu without any problems, until they were displaced as a result of the construction of the Akosombo dam, which made them settle at their present place.

He stressed the need for the government to pay particular attention to those who suffered because of the construction of the Akosombo dam, like the people of Asukwakwa, whose sacrifices made it possible for the country to have electricity, to ensure that they lived decent lives.

Touching on development, the Krachiwura said there was the need for chiefs in the area to see each other as partners in development, and unite to promote development.

Nana Mprah Besemunah observed that the local governance system would be meaningless, if chiefs were left out in the decision making process to plan for development relevant to the needs of the people.

He also asked that chiefs should be empowered financially to enable them boost development activities in their communities, and also called for an improvement in the allowances paid to chiefs.

The Volta Regional Minister, Mr. Joseph Amenowode, said he was impressed with the peaceful environment in the area, which he said, was important for economic activities, and asked the people to use festivals to harness material and human resources to develop the area.

Mr. Amenowode said the government's plans and policies were geared towards bringing development to the people, and stressed that efforts would be made to create the necessary opportunities that would liberate the people from suffering, and reduce poverty.

The Regional Minister pointed out that issues of education, health, and other social interventions, would be tackled to make life more comfortable to all Ghanaians, saying the government was on course to achieving the better Ghana development agenda it was pursuing.

Mr. Amenowode remarked that the region was rich in agriculture, and that the youth should develop interests in the Youth in Agriculture programme, which prospects were encouraging.

The District Chief Executive for Krachi-East, Mr. Raphael Odjumako, cautioned against the adoption of foreign cultures, and charged traditional leaders to help change the trend.

The DCE also pleaded with the traditional authorities to ensure that they remove outmoded traditional practices, which did not promote development, and project only those that could help accelerate development.

Mr. Odjumako pointed out that a number of development activities were being carried out to improve on the living standards of the people, adding that road networks in the area were being developed to open up the area for improved business activities.