Regions observe Indece anniversary(D/G, Satuday, March 7,2009 Page 16-17)

Story: Benjamin Xornam Glover, Bolgatanga
The Vice President, Mr. John Mahama has noted that constant violence in the Upper East Region would not only rob the area any meaningful development but would also scare off potential investors which would inevitably deny the people employment opportunities.
He has therefore entreated the people to partner the government in its bid of finding lasting peace in the area and put it on the track of development.
“With the support of the chiefs, opinion leaders and the security agencies, pragmatic measures would be taken to find lasting peace to the incessant problems in Bawku and in other parts of the of the region and put its development back on track”, he said.
The Vice President said this at a parade in Bolgatanga to mark the independence anniversary celebration of Ghana in Bolgatanga. This is the first time, a high profile guest such as the Vice President, has reviewed the independence anniversary celebration in the region, which was formed by security services drawn from the Ghana Police Service, Ghana Prisons Service, Customs Excise and Preventive Service, the Fire, and Immigration Services, as well as 2,247 children from selected schools in the Bolgatanga Municipality.
The parade was under the command of Assistant Superintendent of Police, (ASP), Kweku Bempah.
Among the dignitaries present were Mr. Cletus Avoka, Minister for the Interior, Mr. Mark Wayongo, Upper East Regional Minister, Mr. Mahama Ayariga, Presidential Spokesperson, Brigadier-General Joseph Adinkrah , in charge of Northern Command, Deputy Commissioner of Police, Mr. Patrick Timbillah, Director Genreal in Charge of Operations as well as Service Commanders.
A ten-man delegation from neighboring Burkina Faso, led by Mr. Pierre Bicaba, High Commissioner of the Province of Boulgou in the Central East Province, attended this year's anniversary celebration.
Vice President Mahama identified poverty as the number one enemy of the people in the region adding that this has been exacerbated by the violent ethnic and chieftaincy conflicts in some parts of the region, especially Bawku.
To that end, he said President Mills' government would work towards the alleviation of poverty in the region through the creation of employment opportunities which will engage the boundless energies of the teeming youth in active economic ventures all year round.
The Vice President however stressed that without peace; no meaningful development would take place and urge the people to embrace peace.