The Chiefs and people of the Effutu Tradition­al Area in the Central Region on Saturday climaxed the celebration of their annual Aboakyer festival.This year's celebration was on the theme: "Championing our ancestral legacy".There was heavy joint team of security personnel, including the Ghana Police Service, Immigra­tion Service, Fire Service and National Security presence in the town to maintain law and order during the celebration.Twafo Asafo number one company was the first to arrive at the durbar grounds at 10: 13 a.m.

with the live deer.Their arrival triggered sponta­neous jubilation from residents who had gathered at the durbar grounds.The Dentsefo Asafo number two company arrived later around 10:25 a.m.In his remarks, the Paramount Chief of Effutu Traditional Area, Neenyi Ghartey VII, appealed to the government to facilitate the construction of an ultra-modern market to aid the development of the local economy.He explained that, the cur­rent market which had become congested was affecting economic activities in the area.Construction of the market, he said would also serve as a legacy for the current Mahama adminis­tration.Neenyi Ghartey VII also appealed to the government for rehabilitation of a number of roads in the Effutu municipality.He further called for govern­ment's intervention in the estab­lishment of businesses to create employment opportunities for the teaming unemployed youth in the area.The Minister of Local Govern­ment, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs, Ahmed Ibrahim, in his address, expressed the com­mitment of the government to construct market complex for the area.He said, construction of the market which would be part of the 24-hour economy market would be dependent on the avail­ability of the required land size for the project.He urged the youth of Effutu to work towards regular planting of trees in the area especially the forest where the deer hunting takes place."The sustainability of the Aboakyer festival is dependent on the protection of the environ­ment and the forest," he said.In his remarks the Central Re­gional Minister, Ekow Okyere Pa­nyin, expressed the government's commitment towards empowering the youth with employable skills through various programmes and interventions. FROM DAVID O.

YARBOI-TETTEH, WINNEBA