By Ewoenam Kpodo
Ho, July 17, GNA- President John Dramani Mahama has reaffirmed his government’s commitment to ensuring the Volta Region gets its fair share of national development, saying its loyal support will not be taken for granted.
Speaking at a sod-cutting ceremony for the 24-Hour Economy Market at Juapong in the North Tongu District on Thursday as part of his two-day “Resetting Ghana” tour of the Volta Region, the President, said the region had made immeasurable contributions to Ghana’s growth and deserved to benefit fully.
“The Volta Region has made an immeasurable contribution to Ghana’s development, and its people deserve to share fully in the progress of our nation,” he stated.
“When I was campaigning for President, I said I will always ensure that the Volta region gets its fair share of national development. This government does not regard the Volta region merely as a region of loyal political support.”
He emphasised that his administration’s mandate was to govern every Ghanaian, and that commitment to Volta was founded on “fairness, equity, our constitutional responsibility to ensure balanced national development.”
“We reject the notion that any part of Ghana should be taken for granted or left behind because of its electoral choices.”
President Mahama said government was deliberately investing across the regions in healthcare infrastructure, education, roads, market modernisation, agriculture, agro-processing, trade and job creation.
The President’s assurance came amid strong historical support for the governing National Democratic Congress (NDC) in the region.
During the 2024 campaign, Mr Fifi Fiavi Kwetey, NDC General Secretary and former Member of Parliament for Ketu South, described the Volta region, particularly Ketu South, as “the heart of the party” and its core base of support.
He added that the late President Jerry John Rawlings, a native of Volta and NDC founder, might have focused on national development and less on the region, feeling that what he (Mr Rawlings) could not do for Volta, his successors would do, thus, appealed to the people not to denounce the party but “Let’s vote NDC to secure our future.”
The 24-Hour Economy Market, a transformative project launched by President Mahama to establish modern, round-the-clock trading hubs in all 261 districts will feature banks, storage facilities, clinics, and crèches for traders’ children in addition to dedicated fire and police posts, aimed at creating jobs and boosting productivity.
The initiative forms part of the broader government’s 24-Hour Economy, an ambitious programme, aimed at maximising resource utilisation through shifts to stimulate economic growth, create jobs and increase productivity across the country, with the Volta region being key in terms of the Volta Economic Corridor Project, expected to transform the Volta River Basin into a logistics and production backbone.
GNA
Edited by Maxwell Awumah/ Lydia Kukua Asamoah
Reporter: Ewoenam Kpodo