Minister assures chiefs of new region
The Volta Regional Minister, Dr Archibald Yao Letsa, has assured the paramount chiefs of the region that the creation of another region will bring more development with nothing to lose in the process.
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He said the decision had been necessitated by the request of the chiefs and would, therefore, be seriously considered.
“Both the erstwhile National Democratic Congress (NDC) administration and the current New Patriotic Party (NPP) government have it in their manifestoes to create this new region in the northern part of the Volta Region.
I believe this is purely a developmental issue so that the development of the districts in the northern part of the region can also be rapidly promoted,” he said.
“Our people in the central and southern parts of the region would have nothing to lose at all,” he further said.
Dr Letsa, therefore, called for the support and cooperation of all chiefs and people for this vital regional re-organisation to be realised when the time comes.
He was addressing the general meeting of the Volta Regional House of Chiefs at their auditorium in Ho yesterday.
Completion of ongoing projects
Dr Letsa further assured the chiefs and people that the government would continue to ensure that all ongoing projects of the previous administration, such as the Ho aerodrome, the Eastern Corridor road, the Volta regional library and many other projects were completed.
He also said the government would deliver on the promises of establishing the “one district, one factory” and “one village, one dam” projects, and that a new sports stadium would be constructed in Ho.
He disclosed that plans were far advanced to construct a bridge on the Oti River at Dambai to bring to an end the difficulties and inconveniences associated with the crossing of the river as well as to boost socio-economic activities on both sides of the river.
Collaboration with chiefs
Dr Letsa, however, stressed the importance of firm collaboration among the chiefs, regional coordinating councils, municipal and district assemblies and added that without the cooperation, support and blessings of chiefs and queen mothers as the custodians of traditions, material and human resources the task of development could not be achieved.
He said together they could begin to strategise as to how best they could work to uplift the people from the doldrums of ignorance, illiteracy, diseases and poverty as fast as possible.
The regional minister told the chiefs that wealth creation was crucial to the government and that the Volta Region must take advantage of all opportunities that came their way, and that they should help their municipal and district assemblies in the collection of property rates in their various jurisdictions.
He said as monetary support from international development partners dwindled, coupled with the reduction in the quantum of funds from the central government, it was pertinent for district and municipal assemblies to explore and maximise the revenue sources available to them at the local level.
In his contribution, the Osie of the Avatime Traditional Area, Togbe Adza Tekpor, expressed the hope that the regional minister would walk the talk on all the promises made to them.