VR citizens urged to transform region’s economic fortunes

According to him, the uniqueness of the Volta Region also manifested itself in its geographical features and the climatic variations across the region and positioned it for great strides in the mining of its many mineral deposits such as gold, diamond, bauxite, hydrocarbons (both offshore and onshore) and salt.

Its rich agricultural potential, tourism products and rich and diverse cultural and traditional heritage also put it in a unique position, he said.

Dumega Okudzeto said a cursory glance at the tourism map of the Volta Region also revealed resplendent clean golden and “textured” beaches all year round, adding that the Keta Lagoon and the evergreen mangrove vegetation constituted sanctuaries for migratory birds and provided a unique pastime for bird watchers.

 “The region is also the home of Mount Afadja, the highest point in Ghana, with cool and revering climatic condition for international tourists, beautiful waterfalls and rivers,” he said.

He said with the opening up of the eastern corridor, which provided a shorter route by road to the north, the Sahel Regions of West Africa stood to gain tremendously from the haulage of goods at shorter distance, cost and time.

“The region, therefore, provides a safe and vibrant gateway for the countries in the Sahel Region, such as Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger. It also affords additional opportunity to travellers along the corridor to transact business with the friendly people of the Volta Region,” he said.

He expressed gratitude to God for the peace that the people of the Volta Region was enjoying, as well as the entire nation, adding that the region was a microcosm of the whole of Ghana.

“As I have always said, when a group of people come together over an idea or of a shared vision, such a group can never fail or disintegrate. Thus the vision of the Volta Foundation is that the Volta Region must begin to experience real development and quality of life for its people. This is what I will describe as real change,” he noted.

Dumega Okudzeto said as a citizen of the region, seeing the huge potential lying fallow and with the experience he had acquired in life, he felt pain watching people from the region wallowing in penury with economic and natural resources worth billions of dollars around them.

“In view of the above, six years ago, I decided to put my dreams and visions into action and with a few like-minded Voltarians, we gave birth to the Volta Foundation as a platform for all Voltarians to discuss ideas and contribute to the rapid development of our birthplace. Truly, and with the support of our chiefs, opinion leaders and stakeholders, the whole region received our clarion call and with determination and unity of purpose, our region is now known as one of the lucrative investment destinations, using the vehicle of trade fairs under the name ‘Volta Trade and Investment Fair, which also enjoyed international patronage’,” he said.

He expressed his deepest condolence to the family of the late Volta Regional Minister and MP for Buem, Henry Ford Kamel, and added that the region had really lost a great son who was a true unifier.

He expressed gratitude to the chiefs of the region for their unalloyed support for developmental efforts in the region and hoped that the new year would strengthen their resolve to do more for the betterment of the people.