The Chinese Government is to establish a tropical and medical research centre in the Volta Region. Furthermore, a number of enterprises including an animal husbandry firm, river transportation on the Volta Lake, and construction of housing units are to be established in selected communities in the region. This is as a result of efforts by the chiefs of the region who on various occasions, led business delegations to seek investment abroad for the development of the region. In furtherance of this, a high-powered Chinese business delegation is expected in the country in May, to explore avenues in the areas of health, education and agri-business to accelerate the socio-economic development of the Volta Region. Otekple Nana Soglo-Alloh IV, paramount. Chief of Likpe Traditional Area, made these disclosures at the a Lekoryi (Unity festival) of the chiefs and people of Likpe in the Hohoe South District, as part of the Easter festivities to showcase the importance and relevance of the chieftaincy institution. Under the theme, 'Education-back to basics', the occasion was used to honour three illustrious sons and a daughter of the traditional area for their meritorious services and efforts towards peace, unity, and harmony and development of the area. Those honoured were Winifred Bonsi, Nana Kweku Aboagye and Madam Janet Dunya. Otekple Soglo-Alloh, said the Volta Region "has witnessed in recent times, immense contribution of chiefs to the development of communities and the improvement of quality of life by setting up education endowment funds and charity foundations to help the people" . Appalled by the performance of pupils at the Basic Education Certificate Examination over the years, Otekple Soglo-Alloh said almost all the primary and Junior High School classrooms in the traditional area had been provided with electricity at a total cost ofGH¢52,OOO to enhance teaching and learning. He urged Likpe citizens both at home and outside, to set up education foundations and social endowment funds to support government's efforts at accelerating development in the area to arrest the fallen standards. He suggested to the government to take another look at the national constitution to ensure that chiefs were made equitable members of the political establishment of the nation. Speaking at the function, Mr E. T. Mensah, Minister of Water Resources, Works and Housing, said the government¬ had provided equal opportunities for all youth in Ghana to excel in their respective spheres of endeavour. "Improvement of education is a shared responsibility which must not be let to governments alone to shoulder, but should involve active participation of all stakeholders to ensure the relevance and importance of the theme," he said. Mr. Mensah urged school authorities, parents, pupils and students not to be discouraged by the harsh conditions they were facing, but to strife harder to overcome them since their predecessors studied and worked under harsher conditions and excelled. Ray Kakraba-Quarshie, a legal practitioner, expressed concern about lack of communal Spirit amongst the youth and the slow pace of infrastructural development in the area.