Chief of Staff Julius Debrah has expressed confidence that the creation of the Volta Economic Zone will transform the Volta Region and significantly improve livelihoods across Ghana.
Speaking on behalf of President John Dramani Mahama at the Grand Durbar of the 2025 Hogbetsotso Festival, Mr Debrah said the project would be a major step toward unlocking the full economic potential of the Volta Basin.
“My prayer is that once we are able to support him [President Mahama] and we are able to create the Volta Economic Zone, Ghana will change dramatically and our lifestyle will also change dramatically,” Mr Debrah stated.
The proposed Volta Economic Zone forms part of President Mahama’s broader 24-hour economy agenda, which aims to harness the potential of the Volta Lake and its basin into a major industrial hub.
While the Volta Lake has long been central to Ghana’s energy supply through hydroelectricity, the President believes its broader economic benefits remain largely untapped.
The initiative envisions the Volta Basin as a national production zone and logistics corridor, linking northern food-producing regions to southern markets and export points. It includes plans to cultivate over two million hectares of lakeside farmland, revitalise fisheries for local and export markets, and develop industrial parks to process agricultural products and manufacture essential goods.
The Volta Lake Transport Corridor will also be upgraded into a fully functional inland waterway, designed to cut logistics costs, ease pressure on road networks, and improve trade efficiency.
Mr Debrah’s remarks were delivered amid colourful celebrations at the Hogbetsotso Za 2025 Festival, which transformed the Anloga–Keta corridor into a vibrant centre of culture, history, and commerce. Held under the theme “Building Bridges: From a Common History to a Common Destiny,” the festival drew thousands of visitors from across Ghana and abroad, highlighting the region’s growing role in tourism and economic development.
The week-long event featured street carnivals, children’s durbars, unity concerts, and traditional rites, with local businesses reporting brisk sales. Hoteliers, restaurant owners, and traders noted a sharp increase in patronage, underlining the festival’s positive impact on the local economy.
Traditional leaders also used the Grand Durbar to reaffirm messages of unity and collaboration, stressing the importance of culture as a foundation for progress.
Discussions during the festival touched on key development priorities, including a proposal to upgrade the Ohawu Agricultural College into a full university to advance agricultural innovation, research, and job creation in the Volta Region.
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