Voltarians Back Chiefs – For Rejecting ‘World Bank’ Title

Togbe Afede

RESIDENTS IN the Volta region have lauded recent remarks by the Volta Regional House of Chiefs concerning the poor commitment shown by politicians, particularly the NDC towards the area's development.  

At various fora, many Voltarians have registered their displeasure about the region's general lack of development.  

Since last Monday when DAILY GUIDE broke the news, the airwaves of radio station across the region have been hijacked by callers who took turns to back the chiefs for making such bold comments and fired salvos at the NDC government as well as its appointees and reps in the region for taking the area for granted.

At the third general meeting of the Volta Regional House of Chiefs, the presence of Deputy Chief of Staff, Alex Segbefia did not prevent the eminent chiefs from lambasting the ruling government for showing little commitment to the region's development despite referring to it as its World Bank.  

President of the House, Togbe Afede VII stressed, 'We want to be respected before, during and after the elections…that is the reason why we don't like to be called the 'world bank,' meaning 'sure banker.' With this there is the tendency to be taken for granted.'

This statement has been widely welcomed by the citizens who have taken over the airwaves with discussions about it all across the region.

From Volta Star Radio and Volta Premiere in Ho, Lorlonyo and Heritage in Hohoe, Light Fm at Denu, Jubilee Radio at Keta, Tongu Radio at Sogakofe, Dela and Adidome Radio in Adidome and Holy Fm at Aflao, the message was loud and clear: the people are unhappy with the level of development in the region.

Many of the callers said even though the submission of the chiefs was long overdue, it could not have come at a better time. 'It is better late than never,' they said.

During the 'Star Morning Treat' program on Volta Star Radio last Monday, the host, King Freeman had a hard time cooling down the tempers of agitated callers who in some cases used derogatory words to describe some of their Members of Parliament.

Some of them suggested that it was about time Voltarians switched to New Patriotic Party MPs so they can assess which  is better among the two.

Callers complained about the bad nature of roads in the region, the 'mysterious Volta University' as one of them put it, the failed Eastern corridor road project, poor sanitation as well as fallen education standards.  

They described most of the municipal and district chief executives, MPs and ministers from the region including the regional minister as dysfunctional leaders.

At Jubilee Fm a caller noted, 'We have all the big men in this government, from the Road Minister, Joe Gidisu, Deputy Transport Minister, Dzifa Ativor, Alex Segbefia, Doe Adjaho and what have you, yet we are seeing nothing.'

Another caller on Volta Premiere said 'Our MPs cannot lobby for projects for the region despite their numbers and long stay in parliament and government…we will not allow them to misuse us next year… the chiefs have done very well and we are behind them; next year no performance, no vote, period.'

In a related development, Wisdom Deafemekpor, a member of the Democratic Freedom Party who recently lashed out at the ruling party has also backed the Volta chiefs.

He thanked them profusely for their boldness regarding the   development issue in the region and urged the youth to emulate their chiefs in fighting for their fair share of development.

Mr. Deafemekpor noted that it has been a tactic of the NDC to parade tractors and bulldozers on various project sites and roads to trick the people into voting for them during election year.

He therefore called on all Voltarians not to be deceived this time around by their empty promises. 'They always ride on us to win elections and later abandon us. This time we have to advise ourselves,' he stressed.

He also called on the youth to open their eyes and reject the NDC for once….'like the Central Region did, so that the region can develop. To Togbe Afede and the Volta Regional House of Chiefs, I say Ayekoo, they have done very well.'  

 From Fred Duodu, Ho