UER Zuarungu marks Ndaakoya Festival in Bolgatanga The Chief of Zuarungu Naba Ceasar Abanga Afegrah has appealed to the sons and daughters of the Zuarungu traditional area, both home and abroad to bury their differences and accept the political diversity prevailing in the area. Naba Ceasar Abanga Afegrah made the appeal at the 19th Anniversary celebrations of the Ndaakoya festival in the Zuarungu community of the Bolgatanga MunicipaAlity of the Upper East Region. According to him, the current dynamic political system in the area is characterised with opportunities. This include varied ideas from members of political parties, talents and experiences needed to facilitate development in the area and Ghana. Ndaakoya literally means a thanksgiving to the gods for a successful farming season. It is an annual festival celebrated by the chiefs and people of Zuarungu traditional area. This year' s celebration was under the theme "Uniting People for Participatory Sustainable, Development. It was aimed at mobilizing and uniting the people in order to promote active participation for the transformation of the community. Speaking to Radio Ghana, Naba Abanga, said, since the establishment of the festival 21 years ago, it has facilitated numerous development initiatives in the area. This include renovation of the community clinic, initial seed capital that paved the way for the construction of the University of Cape Coast distance satellite campus. He said, steps are being taken to streamline Ndaakoya administration to a workable document devoid of deficiencies. He explained that the annual Ndaakoya celebration offers an opportunity as a people, to evaluate and reassess their needs. He was grateful to the government for elevating Bolgatanga East constituency to a district with Zurungu as the capital and other projects given to the area. He asked that ongoing projects should be fast tracked. Naba Abanga also appealed for more projects for the infant district. The Chairman for the occasions Bon-Naba Salifu Alemyarum said as much as festivals espouses and teaches the youth our traditional and cultural values, they should be used as a development tool to build communities. The Upper East Regional Minister, Rockson Ayine Bukari emphasized that the celebration of festivals reawakens our consciousnesses, traditional African beliefs such as respect the elders and leaders which existed long before the advent of our colonial master Mr. Bukari stressed that President Akufo-Addo's desire is to build one Nation with a common destiny and urge all Ghanaians to be part. Prominent among the dignitaries to grace the occasion was the Over-Lord of the Mumpurug traditional Kingdom Nature Naa Bohugu Mahami Abdulai Sheriga. Story by Akayeti Emmenuel, GBCONLINE ---DECRYPTED---