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Mr Bede Ziedeng, immediate past Northern Regional Minister has described the Northern Region as a haven of peace, investment and business development where the country could depend on for the country�s economic fortunes. While acknowledging some occasional skirmishes, he said such occurrences could be brought under control if the chiefs and the opinion leaders in the region were educated to persuade the youth to venture into economic ventures to better their lives. Mr Ziedeng made the observation at the weekend when he visited the Bamvim Lana, Mohammed Abdulai to bid him farewell as he (Ziedeng) leaves the Northern Region for Upper West Region as Minister. The Minister had earlier visited some chiefs both within the Tamale Metropolis and some prominent chiefs including the regent of Dagbon, Kings of Mamprugu and the Yagbon Traditional Areas where he thanked them for the cooperation and support during his tenure as Northern Regional Minister. �For the period I worked here, with chiefs and people of this region, I have come to know that the people are peace loving, development oriented and one of the most respectful people we have in this country�, he said. �My visit to you is to show my gratitude for the cooperation you and all the other chiefs accorded me. You helped me to execute the agenda of the government and to tell you to continue to have faith towards peace in Dagbon�, he said. Mr Ziedeng said the most exciting moment in his memory was when both the Abudus and Andanis celebrated the Damba festival together in Gbewa Palace, it was peacefully and appealed to the chiefs and people of the area not to allow the peace process to slip, since development would elude them if they lived in conflict. �With the forward march towards lasting peace in Dagbon development is bound to prevail and with the unique celebration of the Damba festival has presented an immeasurable goodwill from the outside world and we must reap good results of that soon�, he emphasised. He said he had enjoyed his stay as a Reginal Minister with all chiefs in Dagbon and appealed to chiefs and people of the area to extend the same cooperation to his successor to ensure that the region became an investment destination for the betterment for the lives of the people. The Bamvim Lana, Mohammed Abdulai commended the Minister for his leadership style, which ensured that the two Gates of Dagbon celebrated the Damba together without any confrontation and urged him to exhibit same qualities in his new region.