US Ambassador calls on Agbogbomefia

Ho, Dec 01, GNA - Mrs Mary Yates, the US Ambassador in Ghana, on Wednesday said the establishment of a 10 billion-cedi Volta Development Fund and another 20 million dollar Venture Capital Fund represented bold initiatives at self-help development in the region.

Ambassador Yates said this when she paid a courtesy call on the Agbogbomefia, Togbe Afede XIV and members of the Asogli Traditional Council in Ho where she is attending the World Aids Day celebration. She said such initiatives represent the commitment of the region to "pull itself by the boot strings".

Ambassador Yates said development ''is best pursued when people realise the need for it and take practical steps to actualise it, and consider any external assistance as only supplementary.''

She commended Togbe Afede for putting his expertise at the service of his people in the establishment of the funds.

On the December 7 elections, Ambassador Yates said it represented an important step towards the establishment of democracy in the country and expressed the hope that peace would prevail during the period. She said ''one does not have to look far beyond the borders of the country to see the effects of the absence of peace.''

Togbe Afede said the chiefs of the region are united and committed to the pursuit of the region's development.

''Chiefs of the Asogli State have taken some initiatives to modernise some traditional practices to conform to modern realities and challenges.''

He commended the US for its support for democracy and development in the country and expressed the hope that the US would support the development initiatives of the region.