The Paramount Chief of the area, Naba Baba Salifu Lemyaarum, who made the commendation at the celebration of the annual “Azambene festival” held in the Bongo District, said the implementation of policies such as the Free Senior High School Initiative, One District, One Factory and the One Village, One Dam, would help contribute significantly to improving the living conditions of many Ghanaians particularly in the rural settings.

Whilst pledging the support of the traditional council and people of Bongo in the implementation of the programmes and policies, the Paramount Chief appealed to the Government to absorb the five community Based Senior High Schools in the area and to establish a Teacher Training College in the area.

He thanked Afrikds–Ghana, a Non-Governmental Organization, for collaborating with the Bongo traditional council to end negative cultural practices by some sections in the communities.

The Paramount Chief expressed worry about the difficulties involved in clearing goods meant for charity at the harbour and appealed to the Regional Minister to help.   Mr Rockson Bukari, the Upper East Regional Minister, lauded the Chiefs and people of the area for nurturing and maintaining peace and said the Government could only execute its programmes effectively in an atmosphere of peace to help alleviate poverty and improve the lives of the people.

He commended the traditional council for using the annual festival to establish the Education Endowment Fund to mobilize resources to get the Community Radio started, among others.  “The theme for the occasion, ‘Information Communication and Education –A Tool for Rapid Development’ is apt. We are happy as a government to note that you are using the festival as a  platform to fight indiscipline and indecent practices, such as indiscriminate cutting down of trees and burning of bushes and  also instituting  good programmes and policies  in the interest of the district “

The traditional Council used the occasion to honour people from the area, who had contributed to the overall development of the District. Among them were Professor Agnes Atia Apusiga, a Lecturer at the University for Development Studies, Reverend Father Asaah Awinnongya, the founder of the Regentropfen College of Applied Sciences, located in the District, Mr Jacob Agambire, former District Secretary of Bongo and Mr William Amuna, former Chief Executive Officer of GRIDCo.

The Azambene festival is celebrated every year by the people of Bongo to thank God for a good harvest and also discuss the welfare of the people.