Gunu pledges to boost V/R tourism potential

The Volta Regional Minister designate, James Gunu, has outlined a bold vision to unlock the region’s tourism potential by improving accessibility to its numerous tourist sites.

He identified the Volta Region as a hub of untapped tourism opportunities and pledged to collaborate with the Ministries of Tourism, Roads, and the Regional Coordinating Council to make tourist destinations more accessible.

“The Volta Region has immense tourism potential, and I will focus on improving the road network to these sites. Enhancing accessibility will not only attract more visitors but will also boost the local economy,” he assured when he appeared before the Appointments Committee of Parliament yesterday.

Tourism

Mr Gunu emphasised the importance of leveraging the region’s natural and cultural attractions to create jobs and drive economic growth.

He highlighted that improving infrastructure around those sites would encourage more investment in the tourism sector and position the region as a key destination for both local and international tourists.

He added that his vision was to make tourism a major contributor to the region’s development, ensuring that communities around tourist sites benefited from the economic activities generated.

Agriculture

He also pledged to revamp tomato farming in the region by attracting investors to establish tomato processing facilities.

That, he said, would help farmers preserve and process their produce, adding value and reducing post-harvest losses.

Mr Gunu emphasised that the initiative aligned with President John Dramani Mahama's vision of a 24-hour economy, where businesses operated around the clock to drive economic growth.

"This will not only create more employment opportunities but also boost tomato production and improve livelihoods," he noted.

Mr Gunu also revealed plans to collaborate with district assemblies and Members of Parliament to link farmers to investors and ensure the success of the processing facilities. 

"We will work closely with the assemblies and MPs to provide the necessary support for farmers, enabling them to benefit fully from this initiative," he stated.

Security

On security, Mr Gunu assured the committee that he would prioritise peace and stability in the region by implementing early warning systems to address security threats.

He also expressed concern over the issue of tidal waves that had destroyed some coastal communities in the region.

Mr Gunu promised to tackle the challenge by working with relevant stakeholders to protect communities from further harm.

The Minister designate also underscored the importance of strengthening the capacity of district assemblies in planning, budgeting and revenue collection.

He indicated that many assemblies lacked the capacity to effectively collect revenue, which was why some privatised it.

He said he would encourage them to establish revenue registers and tax institutions appropriately to boost local development.

Poor road network

Mr Gunu also highlighted the need to address the region’s poor road network, describing it as a personal passion.

"I am passionate about road infrastructure. We will tackle the road network challenges in the region to ensure farmers and traders have better access to markets and services," he assured.

He said he would engage all Members of Parliament and Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Chief Executives to align efforts towards development.

Through collaboration and coordination, he stated they could chart a unified course to bring development to the people of the Volta Region.