The Agbogbomefia of Asogli State, Togbe Afede XIV, is calling for a change in attitude towards development in the Volta Region.
He says despite several initiatives over the years, poverty remains pervasive and school completion and job creation remain low.
He said this at the Volta Economic Forum 2026 held as part of the 2026 Asogli Te Za in Ho on the theme “Transforming potentials into wealth for the Volta Region” on Tuesday, September 23, 2026.
He recounted efforts dating back to the early 1990s with the formation of the Volta Forum Trust, followed by meetings at Akosombo and Sogakope and engagements at Flair and Labadi Beach Hotel, all seeking the region’s development.
He said those efforts led to a draft constitution, establishment of an office at Ring Road Central in Accra, and the Volta Congress held in Ho in 2004.
According to him, “the proposals at the time included a $20 million venture fund and a 10 billion cedis development fund, but meetings on the funds and a fact-finding committee did not yield expected results.”
The Agbogbomefia said other initiatives included the Volta Development Agency in 2009 with its $250 million Volta Development Plan 2009-2014 dubbed; Pathway to Prosperity, which proposed three flagship projects.
Togbe mentioned visits to the Chinese Embassy in 2011, visits from Chinese investors, and an MOU on an experimental rice farm, as well as the launch of the Volta Foundation in 2006 to facilitate socio-economic development and ensure completion of ongoing projects.
He said the Volta Foundation later backed out of the Keta Harbour Project on July 24, 2014.
He attributed the failures to poor planning and coordination, lack of data, limited cooperation, excessive politicisation, lack of critical infrastructure and absence of selfless commitment.
The overlord and businessman further indicated that, “for the region to succeed, its people need to show love for the region, reduce pettiness in politics, embrace honesty, hard work, innovation and education, respect its culture, language, chiefs and people, and demonstrate perseverance.”
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