Veep lauds chiefs and people of Dzodze

Dzodze(V/R), Oct. 01, GNA - Vice President Aliu Mahama at the weekend lauded the chiefs and people of Dzodze in the Volta Region for instituting Deza (Oil Palm) Festival to boost the President's Special Initiative (PSI) on Oil Palm.

He said "The Deza festival is different and special. I believe it is special because it is celebrating the rebirth of an economic crop, which is the oil palm... It is not an exaggeration to say that every part of the oil palm tree has some value." Vice President Mahama made the commendation when addressing the chiefs and people of Dzodze during this year's annual celebration of Deza at Dzodze.

Historically, Dzodze Traditional Area is noted for oil palm production and incidentally it was Vice President Mahama who planted the commemorative oil palm seedling to mark the beginning of the festival in 2002.

He said by-products of the oil palm were used as food, oil for cooking, soap making, cosmetics and medicine. "The fibre in the trunk has several uses and also contains a sap that can be tapped for beverages. Traditionally, the palm fronds are harvested for use as brooms," he said.

Vice President Mahama said all these represented the economic opportunities in the form of jobs creation and income generation, adding: 93The Government's intention to establish a PSI on Oil Palm is to modernise production of oil palm.=94

Mr Prince Ahiadzro, Chairman of the Planning Committee, on behalf of the chiefs and people appealed for streetlights, a dual carriageway and a technical school to cater for Junior Secondary School (JSS) students in the area.