Don't allow politics to divide us - Togbega Gabusu

Ve-Golokuati (V/R), Nov. 28, GNA - Togbega Gabusu VI, Paramount Chief of the Gbi Traditional Area, on Saturday appealed to citizens of the Volta Region not to allow partisan politics to reduce the peaceful communal cohesion in the area into hatred, acrimony and conflicts. He noted that in most cases, parliamentary candidates were subjects in the traditional setting and it would be unsafe to see these people engage in unhealthy rivalry, which sometimes degenerated into conflicts and destruction of lives and property.

Togbega Gabusu who is also the President of the Volta Regional House of Chiefs, made the appeal at the Ve Lukusi Dodoleglimeza 2004, at Golokuati near Hohoe.

He urged the citizens to maintain peace, saying, "Beyond politics life goes on".

The festival, which was under the theme, "Saving our community from HIV/AIDS" was organised by the Ve Lukusi Improvement Society (VELIS), a non-political non-governmental organisation.

He commended the people of Ve for ensuring a peaceful electioneering campaign and urged them to turn out massively to vote on December 7.

Togbega Gabusu pledged a scholarship for the best male and female pupils in the Junior Secondary School from the traditional area for a year.

Togbuiga Delume VII, Paramount Chief and President of Ve Traditional Council, said Mr Delali Ndo of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and Mr Joseph Amewude of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) who were vying for the Hohoe South Constituency were his subjects and urged told their supporters that whoever emerged after the December 7 election would be a victory for the traditional area.

He commended the government for the provision of development projects such as KVIPs, a health centre, a multi million-dollar water project at Golokuati to commence soon.

Togbuiga Delume appealed to the government to construct a 12-unit detached teachers bungalows, a six-unit classroom block for the Golokuati E. P. Primary and the provision of furniture to schools in the area.

He appealed to stakeholders to assist in reversing the falling standard of education in the area and asked the people to be wary of the HIV/AIDS menace saying it was real.

Togbega Deiga VII, Deiga of Peki, called for a cultural renaissance in the region to serve as a rallying point for tourism and development. Mr John Ackah, President of VELIS, expressed concern about the lukewarm attitude of people towards the VELIS Educational Endowment Fund, saying, it was the focus around which their development aspirations would be initiated.

He said only 25 students received scholarships as a result of the attitude.