The people of the Volta Region are looking forward to the delivery of about 10 key development promises by President John Dramani Mahama during the 2024 electioneering.
The promises, which hover mostly around infrastructure development are aimed at stimulating the growth of the local economy and improving the livelihoods of people in the stronghold of the governing National Democratic Congress (NDC).
They include road, market, education, sports and health infrastructure development, agriculture mechanization, and job creation, among others.
He rode on these promises to win the December 2024 general elections with the Volta Region giving the NDC about 90% of the total valid votes.
Road Infrastructure
President Mahama promised to upgrade the road infrastructure between Hohoe and Aflao to first-class status, with an emphasis on the Ho-Denu Road network.
The state of the road between Ho and Tokor is in bad shape and it continues to deteriorate. Mr. Mahama’s promises gave hope to residents of the region, especially drivers and businessmen who ply their trade along the stretch.
“The Ho-Denu Road which is a lifeline for economic activities will be a No. 1 priority. We understand how the poor conditions of roads have ended trade, tourism, and mobility and we are committed to addressing this challenge”, he reaffirmed during his “Thank You Tour” in Ho, in the Volta Region.
Completion of the Eastern Corridor Road Network started by his predecessor; the late President Prof John Evans Atta Mills, was also prime on the promise list of President Mahama during his campaign spree.
He aims to do this to enhance commerce between along the eastern stretch of the country.
“We intend to finish the part of the Eastern Corridor Road that has not been engineered. We will complete the Have-Hohoe section of the Eastern Corridor. We will put an overlay over the Dodi Pepesu-Nkwanta section and also finish the Nkwanta to Kpassa section”, he said.
“We also intend to construct the Dambai bridge and re-engineer the road through Worawora through Kpando”, he further indicated.
Ho Airport
President John Mahama also pledged to ensure the region benefits from the full potential of the Ho Airport constructed during his first term between 2012 and 2016.
He stressed that not only will his government see to the resuming of operations of commercial flights “using smaller aircrafts” but also establish a Pilot Training School at the facility.
“Yesterday, I met with the CEO of the Ghana Airport Company and I gave her the go-ahead to allocate the land for the establishment of the Pilot Training School”, he said.
Education
President Mahama said his government aims to expand education infrastructure and hence would complete the E-blocks started under his government between 2012 and 2016. The facilities when completed would contribute to an increase in enrollment of senior high school students.
He also announced plans to develop the University of Health and Allied Sciences (UHAS) into a first-class tertiary institution, while the Agric College in Ohawu would witness some infrastructure development to position it to be upgraded into a tertiary institution.
Health
In the health sector, President Mahama is focused on developing the infrastructure of the Ho Teaching Hospital and equipping it to become “a proper teaching hospital.”
Water
He announced an expansion of the Kpeve and Adidome water projects to increase water supply to the Adaklu District, Ho Municipality, and adjoining districts. This initiative when implemented would end the perennial water shortage experienced in the Ho Municipality.
Sports Infrastructure
He made known his government's intention to provide the needed facilities to nurture sporting talents in the Volta Region into world-class athletes.
He assured of completing and operationalizing the Volta Regional Youth Resource Center which was abandoned by the Akufo-Addo-led-government.
“The Regional Youth Resource Center which has been left to deteriorate will be developed in order that our young people can develop their talents”, he said.
Modern markets in Ho and Aflao
President Maham hinted at the construction of modern prototype markets across the region to promote economic activities, which he echoed as a major promise during the 2024 electioneering.
He listed Ho, Aflao, and Hohoe as beneficiaries of these promised market projects.
“In addition, we will fulfill our promise of building modern prototype markets in the region such as the one we have planned for Aflao to empower local businesses and international trade with our eastern neighbor, Togo”, he said.
Sea Defense Project
He emphasized his commitment to curtailing the devastation caused by high tides along the Eastern Coast of the region by completing the Sea Defense Project to protect lives, livelihoods, and properties.
This was in response to the pleas of people in the affected areas during the 2024 electioneering when President Mahama visited the Southern part of the Volta Region.
Keta Port
As promised, he announced that his government has begun an initiative to continue and complete the Keta Port Project initiated by his predecessor, President Akufo-Addo in fulfillment of a campaign promise.
President Mahama said he had tasked the sector minister to begin work on the project by reviewing the feasibility studies conducted by the erstwhile government.
“I have asked the newly appointed Minister of Transport to review the feasibility studies on the Keta Prot Project and brief cabinet as early as possible on the status of this project.
Investment in Agric and livelihood
President Mahama
emphasized that the Volta Region would duly benefit from the government’s agenda of promoting agriculture and agribusiness.
He listed the Volta Palm Initiative to benefit from the provision of resources under a public-private partnership aimed at pivoting the Volta Region becoming a leading palm and vegetable oil producer.
He said his government would make available incentives including “equipment and capital” to rice farmers across the region to expand production and enable them to have the processing capacity to add value to their produce to “be able to produce a Volta brand of rice for the domestic market.”
This he said was a carefully thought-through initiative aimed at reducing the importation of rice into the country.
“Areas in Oti and part of northern Volta that produce ginger will have processing plants to produce ginger powder, ginger oil, and others for export. The Kpong area which is a center for cassava production will also receive a cassava processing plant to process cassava into various useful items,” he said.
President Mahama said he would reignite his agenda of supplying young farmers with cocoa seedlings to expand cocoa production across the country, where nurseries were established under his government between 2012 and 2016.
“Since we left office, that project has not been pursued. I want to assure you that we are going to start it again, expand cocoa production so that Volta Region will become one of the leading major producers of cocoa in Ghana”, he said.
Women’s Bank
He, however, didn't mention anything about the Women’s Bank promise which he trumpeted during his campaign sprees in the region in 2024.
He stressed that the region benefiting from this policy to help women access trading capital to invest in their businesses to enable them to expand.
It is unclear how many branches would be established across the region but, the Women’s bank was a key component of his campaign message, especially at market centers.
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