By Michael Pepsin Avorgah
Viepe-Tokor (V/R), Feb. 9, GNA-Mr James Gunu, the Volta Regional Minister, has recounted what he described as the marginalisation of the Region during the eight years of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) administration, saying the region did not receive its fair share of national development.
He said despite the government’s repeated emphasis on infrastructure development during the period, the Volta Region remained largely invisible on the national development map.
Mr Gunu said this when he cut the sod-cutting for a two-storey administrative office complex for the Ketu South Municipal Health Directorate, a project fully sponsored by a private individual.
He cited the NPP’s flagship “Year of Roads” phases one and two initiatives but noted that the critical Aflao–Ho Road corridor was never prioritised under the programme.
Mr Gunu noted that whenever questions were raised about development projects in the Volta Region, the response often suggested that the region was not part of the national agenda, an observation he said reflected the reality on the ground.
The Regional Minister said the return of President John Dramani Mahama to office had restored hope to the people of the Volta Region, assuring residents that the region would receive renewed attention under the current administration.
He announced that in the coming months, the government would commission 36 Community-based Health Planning and Services compounds across the region to improve access to healthcare, particularly in rural and underserved communities.
Mr Gunu also disclosed that significant investments were underway in the education sector through the Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFund), including the construction of 24 dining halls in selected Senior High Schools across the region.
He listed additional projects to include 40 girls’ dormitories, six three-unit classroom blocks, 15 six-unit classroom blocks, 12 twelve-unit classroom blocks, one nine-unit classroom block, 12 administration blocks, 59 staff bungalows, eight headmasters’ bungalows, four science laboratories, four libraries and 34 toilet facilities, among others.
He said these interventions formed part of government’s broader effort to reset the country and ensure equitable development across all regions, stressing that the Volta Region would not be left behind.
Mr Gunu announced the government’s plans to elevate some districts to municipal status and some municipalities to metropolitan status for strategic development purposes.
He said Anloga and South Tongu were being considered for elevation to municipal status, while Ho, Hohoe and Ketu South were under consideration for metropolitan status.
According to him, the proposed elevations were intended to deepen decentralisation, enhance development planning, and attract increased resources to the affected areas.
He reassured the people of Ketu South that the proposed elevation of the municipality would not undermine the President’s commitment to addressing calls for further administrative restructuring, including the possible creation of new districts.
Mr Gunu urged residents to remain confident in the government’s development agenda and to support ongoing efforts aimed at improving infrastructure, healthcare, and education in the region.
GNA
Edited by Maxwell Awumah/Linda Asante Agyei