Central Regional Minister, Madam Ama Benyiwa-Doe, on Saturday urged the chiefs and people of Winneba to uphold peace in the area especially during their annual 'Aboakyer' celebration.
Madam Benyiwa-Doe said the yearly deployment of police during celebration of the Aboakyer to maintain peace and order continued to mar the beauty of the occasion.
She made the appeal when addressing a durbar of chiefs and the people of Effutu Traditional Area to climax this year's 'Aboakyer'.
Madam Benyiwa-Doe said the Aboakyer festival had gained international recognition over the years and that if properly organised, it could be a foreign currency earner for the traditional area.
She expressed concern about the falling standard of education in the Region, saying, the Central Region which was first to have education some years back, trailed in the Basic Education Certificate Examination last year.
Madam Benyiwa-Doe said the government would put in place prudent policies and programmes that would improve the living standard of Ghanaians.
Mr Mike Hammah, Member of Parliament for the area, appealed to the people to bury their differences in the interest of development adding that they should use the festival to take stock of the past and plan towards the future.
Mr Hammah, who is also Minister of Transport, appealed to drivers to desist from drink-driving and speeding in order to prevent accidents and the associated losses.
He said there were plans to extend electricity to nearby communities.
Omanhene, Neenyi Ghartey VII, in his welcoming address, appealed to the government to help them with funds to complete work on a stalled library complex project.
The Tuafo No. 1 Asafo Company was first to arrive at the durbar grounds at about 0925 hours with a live animal and presented it to the Neenyi Ghartey, who stepped on it three times to signify his acceptance.