Sandema (UE), Dec. 23, GNA – The Nasuing Naab, Alex Azantilow, Regent of the Builsa Traditional Area, on Wednesday said alcohol consumption among the people is assuming an alarming proportion and affecting the manpower of the area.

He said excessive alcohol intake could be detrimental to the health of the people and called for a fight against the menace.

Nasuing Azantilow was speaking at this year’s Feok Festival of the chiefs and people of the Traditional Area, on the theme: ”Empowering the youth for better development.”

The people celebrated the event to commemorate the victory of their ancestors against slave raiders, and to give thanks to God for the blessing received in the year.

Nasuing Azantilow appealed to the youth to take their education seriously to enable them to acquire skills and knowledge need for national development.

He lamented the poor performance of students in the area in the Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE).

The chief said out of 1,182 candidates presented for the 2009 BECE, 716 passed, representing 60 per cent and out of 1,351 presented for the examination in 2011, 713, representing 53 per cent.

Nasuing Azantilow called on teachers to work hard to promote teaching, and he asked parents to provide the needs of their children to help them to learn.

He thanked Government for creating another district out of the area.

Mr Mark Woyongo, Upper East Regional Minister, who addressed the people on behalf of Vice President John Mahama, said the National Democratic Congress Government was investing to transform the citizenry to reduce unemployment, especially among the youth.

He said this manifested in the provision of schools, electricity, hospitals, water, and sanitation facilities and other infrastructure to enable the people to establish businesses and to manage the rich mineral resources.

Mr Woyongo said Government had also secured 350 million dollars to construct a dam at Pwalugu, to facilitate the irrigation of more than 150 acres of farms and for livestock production.

He assured the people that the Government would establish Ambulance Service Centers at Garu, Navrongo and Sandema in the region.

The Minister asked the people, especially the youth, to abstain from sexual promiscuity to prevent the spread of HIV/AIDs.