The Aveyime Rice Project is to begin operations early next year at its Battor based site in the North District of the Volta Region. Mr Kofi Dzamesi, Volta Regional Minister announced this on Saturday at this year's Hogbeza festival celebration of the chiefs and people of Battor. He said the Preire Group, an International Consulting firm which was studying the viability of the project had completed its work for the smooth take-off of the project. The Minister said as a result, road network linking the site to major towns, including Asutsuare-Battor road were being worked on and called on young people in the community to "position" themselves well to take advantage of the project when it begun operations. He urged them to rally behind their chiefs and be united to enhance the speedy socio-economic development of the area. "You must not allow chieftaincy disputes resulting from selfish interest to divide you which could affect work on the site", Mr. Dzamesi advised. He said the project was dear to government and appealed to chiefs and opinion leaders in the area to assist government in sustaining the project for mutual benefit. Mr Sampson Kwaku Boafo, Minister of Chieftaincy and Culture who was the guest of honour expressed worry about issues of chieftaincy disputes in the area and appealed to the people to make the unity, strength and viability of Battor supersede their individual parochial and partisan interests. He said the Ministry of Chieftaincy and Culture was taking steps to codify chieftaincy successions in the country to solve many chieftaincy disputes to promote peace and called for the collaboration of all. Togbe Kpatamia Dzekley VII, Paramount Chief of Battor Traditional Area mentioned the lack of potable water and good roads as major setbacks to the development of the area. He appealed to government to consider the population and size of the Traditional Area and give it a district status with the capital at Battor. Togbe Dzekley also appealed to government to come to the aid of the newly established Battor Police station which he said lacked vehicles and communication gadgets. Earlier, Mr. Kofi Dzamesi presented 14 million cedis and soft drinks on behalf of government to the Traditional Area, while Mr Charles Hodogbe, Member of Parliament for the Area donated 4 million towards the celebrations. Source: GNA