In response to claims made by Mr. Mawutor Agbavitor, regional chairman of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), that the NPP-led government is unfairly denying the people of the Volta region their rightful share of national resources, the New Patriotic Party (NPP) in the Volta Region has issued a statement.
Agbavitor said this at a recent dialogue session between CSOs and the Ho community.
The NPP's Volta Regional Organiser, Mr. Korsi Bodja, responded in an open letter to the NDC regional Chairman, calling Agbavitor's assertions "unfortunate" and "not a true reflection of the facts on the ground."
"As the Volta regional organiser of the NPP, I feel compelled to address your claims and provide a more accurate assessment of government's efforts in the region," the NPP organiser said in response to the critic's remarks made at a dialogue session with civil society organisations.
The letter reaffirmed the NPP government's commitment to ensuring that the Volta region, along with the rest of Ghana, benefits from equitable levels of development.
It detailed a variety of NPP government projects and initiatives from 2017 to 2023 that aimed to improve the quality of life in the region, including efforts to improve access to healthcare, water and sanitation, education, roads, the economy, and agricultural infrastructure.
For the whole letter, see below:
Topic: Addressing Volta Region NPP Claims of Government Ignorance
Greetings, Mr. Agbavitor
I just came across your criticism of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) government for allegedly marginalising the people of the Volta area during the Civil Society Organisations' dialogue session. A more realistic appraisal of the government's achievements in the region necessitates that I respond to your assertions as the NPP's Volta Regional Organiser.
To begin, I'd like to stress that the NPP government has actively pursued policies and implemented programmes to advance regional parity in development across Ghana, including the Volta area. From 2017 to 2022, the government will be implementing the following projects for the people of the Volta region:
HEALTH:
Hospitals in Adaklu Waya, Ve-Golokwati, Kpetoe, Ave Dakpa, Dzolokpuita, Anloga, Kpeva, and Akatsi are being built as part of Agenda 111 projects in eight districts in the Volta Region.
2. The construction of birthing centres in several areas of the region, including the Gbefi CHPS campus and the city of Penyi.
Third, a community health centre should be set up in Torkor and the surrounding areas.
Since 2017, the region has seen significant recruitment of health professionals, resolving the issue of long-term unemployment for healthcare employees.
The CT scanners, oxygen plants, ventilators, patient monitors, ultrasound devices, medical consumables (labs, bleach, parasols, etc.), and other equipment necessary to transform the former Volta Regional Hospital (Trafalgar) into a teaching hospital (4).
Road infrastructure includes: 1. dualizing 10.5 km of Ho Main Road (Civic Centre to Sokode Gbogame) and performing traffic control along that stretch.
Asikum Junction to Have Road Phase 1 (0+00 - 39+300) of the Eastern Corridor Road Project by Messrs First Sky Ltd.
Building a steel bridge with a span of 175 metres from Agbenorxoe to Dafor-Tornu (KPANDO).
Fourteen kilometres of asphalt overlay in Hohoe Municipality.
5. Improvement of 2.44 kilometer-long roads in Klefe Town.
Sixteen kilometres of the Akweteh to Adaklu Waya Road have been resurfaced with bitumen.
7. Repairing the 17.2 km long Dzolokpuita-Bame Cocoa Roads.
The 9.70 kilometres of feeder roads connecting Liate Agbonyira and Fodome Ahor will be resurfaced with bitumen.
9. The Akosombo-Juapong Railway has made significant progress.
AIMING TO IMPROVE URBAN MANAGEMENT AND THE PROVISION OF BASIC URBAN SERVICES, THE Ghana Secondary Cities Support Programme has selected and is providing funding to support two Municipal Assemblies in the Volta Region (Ho and Hohoe).
Second, a technology solution centre for the Rural Enterprise Programme was set up at Hohoe.
Third, the Hohoe Rice Factory was built as part of the One District, One Factory (1D1F) project.
Project 4: Building a Business Advisory Centre at the current location of the Hohoe Municipal Assembly.
5 Building truck stops and local produce markets in different areas of the region.
One example of agricultural infrastructure development is the repair and expansion of existing gravity schemes to irrigate an additional 2,000 hectares of land.
Two, pumped projects provide irrigation water to an area larger than one thousand hectares.
The third objective is to build the Adaklu Waya Agriculture Mechanisation Centre.
Fourth, as part of the PERD programme (Planting for Export and Rural Development), 300,000 cashew seedlings would be given out to farmers.
5. Encourage local cassava production and support the Caltech Ethanol Factory's efforts to increase employment in the region.
WATER AND SANITATION: 1. Completion of 18 water systems serving 35 towns in the Volta region as part of the Spanish Debt Swap Project.
Phase 3 of the ongoing 5 Districts Water Project (€11.5 million) involves enhancing water delivery in a number of communities.
Third, preparations to launch Phase 4, which will help neighbourhoods like North Tongu, Ho West, and Agotime Ziope.
Agordome's Keta Water Supply Project, which will cost 97 million Euros, has made progress.
First, there has been a notable rise in student enrollment across the region, and this has been supported by the upgrading and expansion of educational facilities.
2. With a $60 million subsidy from the Chinese government, a new administration building will be built in Ho for the University of Health and Allied Sciences (UHAS) and the School of Nursing and Midwifery.
Building GNPC schools in several areas of the region (Fodome Awoe, Anfoega, and Kpando are only a few examples).
Four, carrying out GETfund initiatives all throughout the area.
These initiatives illustrate the NPP government's dedication to improving the standard of living and economic growth in the Volta region. Our commitment to meeting people's needs and advancing the region's economy is reflected in these initiatives and policies.
Avoiding generalisations at the expense of the government's actual efforts is crucial. We urge you to have productive conversations and to work together for the benefit of our community and the country.
I'm hoping this sheds some light on the government's plans for the Volta region. I'm happy to answer any questions you may have or provide any further details you may need.
Representative Korsi Bodja (District of Volta, NPP)