A Sub-Divisional Chief of Dzagbaku-Akatorfeme of Mepe, Togbe Korsi Amekunutsi II, has called on the youth to cherish and protect the rich culture values of the country for the benefit of the present and future generations, and avoid the adoption of foreign culture which is strange to the Ghanaian.Togbe Amekunutsi said the growth of every country largely depended on the values placed on its cultural heritage, which he stressed remained the foundation on which society was built and must be pre­served to facilitate development.The chief made the call during his outdooring ceremony at Mepe- Aflame in the Mepe Traditional area of the North Tongu District of the Volta Region last Monday.Togbe Amekunutsi urged the youth to regard the diverse cultural practices across the country as a source of strength that gave the country a unique identity as Ghana­ians over the years, which must be protected.He promised to protect and promote the cultural heritage of Akatorfeme-Aflame to ensure that the inherited traditions and culture, which were still relevant to the socioeconomic development of the people, would not only be preserved but also strengthened.Togbe Amekunutsi said he would promote peace and unity in Akator­feme-Aflame and promote educa­tion of children, saying education remained as the pivot on which development revolves, stressing the need for parents to ensure that edu­cation was the best legacy that they could leave for their children.He said children were the future of every country, therefore he would focus on child education to ensure that all children in the area were in school to enable them to grow and become responsible adults in future.The Chief, a businessman entreat­ed the youth to take advantage of the many opportunities in education to develop themselves, adding that they should embrace technical and vocational education to enable them to establish their own businesses, since government alone could not employ the teaming unemployed youth.A Senior Divisional Chief and the Warlord of Mepe Traditional Area, Togbe Kodzo Azagba commended the kingmakers for a peaceful selec­tion and the installation of Togbe Korsi Amekunutsi, and advised him to work hard, be guided by the past , and be inspired by the present, and looked forward to a brighter future.Togbe Azagba said the expecta­tions of the people were high and stressed the need for him as a new chief to work hard and bring the needed development by mobilis­ing material and human resources for the development of Akator­feme-Aflame.The Warlord reminded the people of Akatorfeme-Aflame of their duty to support the chief at all times, and accord him the needed respect as customs and tradition demand­ed from them, adding that the era of war was over and the common enemy that must be fought was ignorance, disease and poverty. FROM SAMUEL AGBEWODE, MEPE-AFLAME