Vice President John Dramani Mahama has observed that the newly created Adaklu District could be explored to generate substantial revenue from its natural attractions. The Vice President made the remark in an address delivered on his behalf by Mr Alexander Asum Ahensah, Minister for Chieftaincy and Culture at a well-attended durbar to climax Glidzi Festival of the Chiefs and People of the Adaklu Traditional Area on Saturday, December 31st 2011. He, however, expressed reservations about the people’s attitude towards the environment which became evidenced in a surging bushfire that crackled in the bushes across the street while the durbar was going on. “Togbe, as I look at the scenic beauty of the environment here, especially the mountain, I cannot resist the temptation of thinking loudly that the tourist potential for this district is great,” Mr Mahama stated. He envisioned the glorious spectacle of watching the Kalakpa Game Reserve from the top of the Adaklu Mountain, in the district, saying that sight could compare to that from the Table Mountain of South Africa. The Vice President therefore asked the people to advise themselves to make their “environment attractive so that the tourists can come,” especially so when the area hosted the launch of the national Anti-Bush Fire Campaign only two weeks ago. The blades of flames, visible from the Tsrefe JHS Park, venue of the durbar, across the streets, ebbed and rose, so frightening at one time, necessitating an announcement for owners and drivers of vehicles parked on the streets to move them away. The theme of the festival instituted to celebrate the forbears for their gallantry in securing their present place of abode was: “Uniting for Development”. Mr Mahama said it was gratifying to note as a new district that Adaklu appreciated the need for unity in development and noted: “The spirit of unity is most critical for, it promotes peace and engenders stability, which is definitely required for development”. The Vice President, therefore, called on all citizens of Adaklu to foster this spirit stating, “I believe that in a short time the fruits will be evident.” Mr Mahama expressed the hope that the new district would meet the Electoral Commission of Ghana’s criteria to become a Constituency when all the steps had been concluded. He said it was noteworthy that the people had selected health as a priority, announcing that government would select a health facility in the new district to be upgraded into a district hospital. Mr Mahama said there was the need to conclude studies on the feasibility of extending water from the Kpeve Pumping Station to the area. He said plans were afoot to address the deficit and expand facilities in educational infrastructure and other amenities in schools in the traditional area. The Vice President said construction of the major roads in the area would have to be speeded-up, saying “we will make sure that other important roads that will facilitate movement of goods and services within the district are taken care of.” Togbe Gbogbo Atsya V, Paramount Chief of the Adaklu Traditional Area, expressed gratitude to the government for carving the area out as a district on its own. He said the people were steadily strengthening their bonds of unity for positive development. Togbe Atsya expressed dismay at the bushfire across the street and warned that he would turnover those responsible and others who would be caught torching bushes to the authorities. The durbar was characterized by long periods of cultural displays from the over 36 settlements that constitute the vast expanse of Adaklu Traditional Area. Present were Mrs Juliana Azumah-Mensah, Minister of Women and Children’s Affairs and MP for the Area, Colonel Cyril Necku, Deputy Volta Regional Minister and Mr Kobla Adzaho, District Chief Executive (DCE) for the Adaklu-Anyigbea among others