President John Dramani Mahama on Saturday called on traditional rulers to learn how to live in peace with one another, no matter their difference for a common purpose to promote national development.

“We can never develop our communities, if we continue to engage in chieftaincy disputes in our areas,” he said.

President Mahama gave the advice in a speech read for him at a durbar to climax the week-long celebration of the Homogeneous Festival on the theme: “Unity and Development” in Accra.

The Homogeneous festival dubbed: “Homofest” 2015, was instituted last year by the Ministry of Tourism Culture and Creative Arts as part of measures to promote domestic tourism.

It is also aimed at fostering unity among the Ga Dangbes, in addition to creating awareness among the indigenes, whilst` promoting their food, dance and music.

The festival is also part of the Ministry's 'Explore Ghana' project, which has the sole objective of promoting Domestic tourism.

He said it was time for the traditional house of chiefs to put their actions and inaction together to project the activities of their traditional councils.

He lauded the effective collaboration between the Ministries of Local Government and Rural Development, Chieftaincy and Culture and the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts and other institutions in the organization of Homofest 2015.

The President said these partnerships reflected the commitment and a sense of ownership demonstrated by these institutions to develop and sustain the culture of the people of Ga Dangbes.

He called on all to see the Homofest as a vehicle for unity and national development efforts.

Mrs Elizabeth Ofosu-Adjare, the Minister of Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts said the Ministry was committed to up hold the culture and identity of the citizenry.

She said the festival was to make the people understand the culture of the Ga Dangbes and also promote domestic tourism.

The Minister said Homofest was also celebrated to climax the annual celebration of all the festivals of the various traditional areas within the Greater Accra Region.

She said the Homofest was only a festival for the capital city, which seeks to promote ‘Unity and Development, with emphasis on improving sanitation, investment and job creation among others.

“It, therefore, forms an integral part of my Ministry’s domestic tourism initiative, coded ‘Explore Ghana,’ aimed at bringing our people closer to our rich cultural traditions and harnessing the creativity of our citizenry,” she added.