We'll turn around Volta's fortunes without donor support, aid — Regional Minister

Dr Archibald Yao Letsa, the Volta Regional Minister has said the Regional Coordinating Council (RCC) would do all it can to transform the economic fortunes of the region.

He said the RCC hoped to do without support or aid in line with the President's vision of “Ghana beyond Aid.”

Dr Letsa who made the ambitious statement at the opening ceremony of the Volta Trade and Investment Fair 2021 said the RCC was still committed to the vision and mission of making Volta a producing and exporting region with her citizens actively participating in the growth agenda.

He, therefore, called on the teeming youth to acquire skills to enable them to contribute to the region's economic transformation.

“Together, we'll turn around the economy without donor support and aid. This will enable us to achieve the vision of His Excellency the President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo. That is; to build a prosperous “Ghana beyond Aid.”

He expressed gratitude to all partners of the 5th Volta Trade and Investment Fair saying, it was critical because trade and investment were the “drivers of local economic development and growth” which had helped millions of people in Asia and the Pacific to escape poverty and that Volta needed to flaunt its potentials proudly to attract the right investment.

“A sector scintillating with potentials in tourism, the crocodile pond at Ave-Dakpa Township, Akatsi North and beautiful mountains like Afadzato, Adaklu, Gemi (Amedzofe) and Klefe are ripe for transformation into eco-tourism destinations.

Wli/Agumatsa waterfalls and Volta Lake, Keta Lagoon Ramsar Sites, our golden beaches, and the Tafi Atome Monkey Sanctuary are waiting for transformation.”

The Regional Minister mentioned agriculture, livestock breeding, aquaculture, forestry, manufacturing, textiles and garment industry, power generation and distribution, education, health services, infrastructure, and real estate industry as other sectors that offered great potentials for investors.

The day had in attendance sponsors of the Fair being held on the theme “Promoting Sustainable Trade and Investment” including Association of Ghana Industries (AGI), chiefs and queens, head of security agencies, head of regional departments and agencies, and Municipal and District Chief Executives.

Also in attendance were members of the diplomatic corps including Ms Grace Jeanet Mason, South Africa; Mr Eliphas Barine, Kenya, Col Rtd Awoki Panassa, Togo; Mr Aboubacar Sadikh Barry, Senegal; Mr Abdoul Kader Toure, Mali; Rtd Admiral Ibok Ekwe Ibas, Nigeria; Madam Selma Ashipala-Musavyi, Namibia; and Sugandh Rajaram, the Indian High Commissioner to Ghana.

Togbe Tepre Hodo IV, President of Volta Regional House of Chiefs who chaired the occasion, spiced with various cultural displays, commended the organisers for such a wonderful Fair geared towards advertising the huge economic potentials of the region.

He said there was the need for the Regional Minister to work to fix bad roads in the region, “make the dream of Keta Port a reality,” ensure the completion of existing uncompleted school facilities among others for the desired growth of the region.

GNA