Volta Region needs development projects, not visits — NDC

The Volta Regional National Democratic Congress (NDC) has stated that the region needs projects that will enhance its socio-economic development, “not frequent visits from the President.

"The party said the President had demonstrated in his recent visits to the region that he had nothing to show in terms of development for the people of the region.

A statement signed and issued by the Volta Regional Communications Officer of the party, Mr Kafui Agbeleze said President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo on several platforms promised to develop the region.

“However, there are no concrete indications pointing to the fulfilment of those promises," it said.

2019 SONA

It said during the State of the Nation Address (SONA) in 2019, the President said a consortium of local banks had raised $51 million to fund the completion of the housing units started by former President J. A. Kufuor’s administration in 2006 in Koforidua, Tamale and in Ho.

It, however, said there were no housing projects “anywhere in and around Ho" and not even a “dime" of the $51 million raised by the consortium of banks as stated by the President came to Volta Region for any housing project.

Keta Port

The statement said the President in 2018 signed an Executive Instrument to commence the construction of a seaport at Keta and subsequently appointed Dr Alexander Adusei Jnr as Director of “the yet-to-be constructed Keta Port, a situation that had caused many to express misgivings about the project."

It alleged that though the project had not started, Dr Adusei Jnr continued to draw salary for no work done, asking, “why should the nation continue to pay Dr Adusei Jnr when all he could show of the port project is a small billboard with the inscription, 'Site for the Keta Port'."

It said the President himself had not shown much commitment towards the project as there was no financial commitment on the side of the government in the 2019 budget towards it, and “interesting too, there was no mention of the Keta Port in the 2020 budget either."

Job losses

The statement said many young people in the region also lost their jobs as a result of the government's approach to the banking sector clean-up and the closure of nine radio stations.

“We want to also assure the President that he is at liberty to frequently visit the region as he so wishes, however, those visits will be meaningless if it does not translate into tangible development of the region," it stated. - GNA