Torgbui Dey III and Mama Agbaledzokpui of Dzodze Apetepe |
The Chiefs and
People of Dzodze Traditional area in the Ketu-North district of the Volta
region have climaxed their 13th annual ‘Deza’ (Oil Palm Festival)
over the weekend, with a call on young people in the area to venture into
cultivation and production of oil palm instead of engaging in risky
unsustainable and illegal economic activities.
The Ketu North district
is one of the districts in the Volta region that records worrying levels of
fuel smuggling due to their proximity to the to the Republic of Togo.
But according to the
Volta Regional Minister Helen Adwoa Ntoso, the potentials in the oil palm
industry are enormous and lucrative, which can lead to economic security.
She said aside the domestic consumption of oil
palm, its extensive use as a vital raw material for industrial production of
products such as cosmetics, soaps, bio-diesel fuel, among others, makes its
cultivation a very lucrative venture, which can turn the fortunes of many young
people.
She proposed as a
way of motivating the youth, the institution of an award scheme to reward the
best oil palm farmer, saying ‘it is when our people are engage in this kind of
economic activities, that little by little our economy will grow into a robust
one.’
The minister also commended
the efforts of all farmers and assured them of government continuous support
through various agriculture intervention programmes to make farming worthwhile.
Madam Ntoso flanked by Ketu North DCE and MP |
Also present were
two chiefs from the Eastern region, Osaberima Kwesi Boating III of Akwatia
traditional area and Nana Osafo Kantanka I of Akwapim traditional area, who is
also the Managing director of Takoradi International Company (TICO).
The two in a
solidarity message underscored the importance of peace and unity for socio-economic
development and urged the people to support both traditional and political
leadership to drive meaningful development.
Mr. Emmanuel Xorvey
Dzineku, chairman of the festival planning committee, lauded government for the
various developmental projects initiated in the area and called for their
speedy completion.
He also appealed for
infrastructure support for the newly established Dzodze E.P College of
Education which begins this academic as well as the reconstruction of
Dzodze-Denu road which is inundated with potholes.
The Member of
Parliament for Ketu-North, James Kludze Avedzi redeemed a pledge made at last
year’s celebration by then Minister of Agric, Kofi Humado and presented a
number of oil palm seedlings to the planning committee.
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