By Michael Foli Jackidy, GNA
Ho (V/R), Sept. 23, GNA – Mr Julius Debrah, the Chief of Staff, has called for a stronger focus on converting the Volta Region’s investment opportunities into bankable projects, actual investments, businesses and jobs.
He made the call when he addressed the second edition of the Volta Economic Forum (VEF) in Ho, held under the theme, “From Opportunity Showcase to Investment Execution.”
Mr Debrah, the Special Guest of Honour, said the people of the Volta Region were already aware of the value of its land, lake, coastline, culture and youthful population, but the region needed the discipline and commitment to transform those assets into viable businesses, better incomes and decent jobs.
He said the success of the Forum should not be measured only by the number of participants or discussions held, but by tangible outcomes, including projects securing financing, partnerships moving into implementation and entrepreneurs gaining access to new markets.
Mr Debrah congratulated the Volta Regional Coordinating Council, the Volta Representative of the National Development Planning Commission (NDPC), the Volta Corridor Investment Centre (VCIC), traditional leaders and other partners for organising the Forum.
He said the Government’s vision was to position the Volta Region as an important production, tourism and trade centre for Ghana and the wider West African market.
According to him, the Volta Economic Corridor, being developed as part of President John Dramani Mahama’s 24-hour economy and accelerated development agenda, offered a framework to connect agriculture, aquaculture, processing, manufacturing, inland transport, renewable energy, tourism and regional trade.
He said the Government had approved the corridor as a national project and designated it as Ghana’s first net-zero economic corridor, while the African Development Bank had signed a letter of intent to support its development and help mobilise financing.
Mr Debrah said the Volta River Authority, the 24-hour Economy Secretariat and the Ghana Infrastructure Investment Fund had also begun work on the commercial and legal framework needed to attract long-term private investment while protecting the public interest.
He urged project promoters to undertake the necessary preparations to make their proposals investment-ready, including securing land, conducting feasibility studies, obtaining approvals, identifying markets and clearly defining financing requirements.
“Opportunity attracts attention; preparation attracts capital, and follow-through creates jobs,” he said.
The Chief of Staff called for the development of a short and prioritised pipeline of investment-ready projects from the Forum, with each project assigned a responsible lead, clear financing requirements, timelines and specific follow-up actions.
He said government, financial institutions, traditional authorities and the private sector each had a role to play in ensuring successful investment outcomes.
Mr Debrah said traditional authorities were particularly important in securing land, building community confidence and protecting investments, while the private sector was expected to provide capital, management expertise and market discipline.
He also stressed the need for local communities to benefit directly from major investments through employment, procurement opportunities, training and access to markets.
Mr James Gunu, Volta Regional Minister, said the region’s economic transformation could be anchored on four major pillars: agriculture and agro-processing; tourism and hospitality; manufacturing and logistics; and the blue economy and fisheries.
He said the region had the potential to expand commercial agriculture and process crops such as cassava, rice, maize, fruits, vegetables, coconut and cocoa locally to create higher-value products.
Mr Gunu said tourism development should capitalise on the region’s beaches, waterfalls, mountains, forests, cultural heritage and other attractions, while efforts should be made to encourage longer visitor stays and enable local businesses to capture more tourism revenue.
He said the region’s strategic location between southern Ghana and Togo also presented opportunities for agro-processing, light manufacturing, warehousing, transportation and cross-border trade.
On the blue economy, the Minister said sustainable fishing, aquaculture, fish processing and related infrastructure could drive economic activity around the Volta Lake and coastal communities.
He said the multiplier for all four sectors would include digital skills, reliable electricity, irrigation, access to finance and vocational training.
Mr Gunu said the Regional Coordinating Council had established a Volta Youth Development Fund, through which about 10 young entrepreneurs had so far received GHS10,000 each to expand their businesses and create employment.
He also said about 300 young people were engaged in agriculture under the Volta Youth in Agriculture initiative.
The Minister disclosed that the RCC had identified about 1,500 acres of land at Adaklu for an industrial park and appealed to investors to collaborate with the region to develop the site.
He said the VRCC would continue to coordinate development initiatives across the region and work with ministries, departments, agencies, traditional authorities and private-sector actors to promote investment and job creation.
Dr Elikplim Apetorgbor, the Lead Convenor of the Forum and Volta Representative on the NDPC, said the region was endowed with opportunities in agriculture and agro-processing, tourism and hospitality, fisheries and aquaculture, energy, transport and logistics, manufacturing, real estate and infrastructure.
He said such resources would not transform the regional economy without capital, credible projects, enabling institutions, strategic partnerships and disciplined execution.
Dr Apetorgbor said the maiden Forum in 2025 had showcased and marketed investment opportunities across the region and some of the efforts were beginning to yield results.
He cited the Zonda Showroom in Ho, a 500-acre sisal farming project in Akatsi North, aquaculture development in Keta, interest in white clay at Kpando for ceramics and the Zen Palms Beach Resort and Spa in Keta as emerging investment initiatives.
He said the 2026 Forum was therefore designed to connect credible projects with investors, financial institutions and strategic partners capable of providing the capital, expertise and institutional support required for implementation.
Dr Apetorgbor proposed the establishment of a Volta Development Advisory Council as a high-level, multidisciplinary body to provide strategic guidance on the region’s economic development and help shape an evidence-based and commercially realistic development strategy.
He said the success of the Forum should be measured by capital mobilised, businesses established, projects implemented, jobs created and economic value generated across the region.
Dr Apetorgbor said the region’s ambition should be to develop a credible pipeline of investible projects in every municipality and district and consistently market them to investors.
He said the ultimate objective was for residents, particularly young people, to experience development through farms, factories, hotels, aquaculture enterprises, technology ventures, logistics businesses and decent jobs.
Togbe Afede XIV, the Agbogbomefia of Asogli and Chairman of the Forum, called for unity and collaboration among citizens and stakeholders and urged them to work together to attract investors and accelerate development in the Volta Region.
The second edition of the Volta Economic Forum brought together government officials, private investors, entrepreneurs, traditional leaders, development institutions, students and other stakeholders to explore investment opportunities and strategies for translating them into sustainable economic activities.
GNA
Edited by Maxwell Awumah/Benjamin Mensah
Pictures Attached
26 Sept. 2026