The National Democratic Congress (NDC) flagbearer, Mr. John Dramani Mahama, has revealed his development agenda and key priorities for the Volta region if elected. Addressing the Regional House of Chiefs during his campaign tour, Mahama outlined several focal points.
Among his promises, Mahama emphasized his commitment to addressing infrastructure challenges, particularly the Eastern Corridor Road network and the Ho-Aflao network.
He pledged to construct a modern market in Aflao, rivaling Togo's “Asigame” market, and upgrade the Ohawu Agricultural College to university status.
Mahama also expressed his dedication to compensating victims of the Akosombo spillage, enhancing the Ho Teaching Hospital into a “Centre of Medical Tourism,” expediting oil exploration in the Voltain Basin, establishing an industrial park, expanding irrigation facilities, and creating an ICT hub for start-up projects.
During the campaign tour, Mahama stressed that the focus was on gathering input to update the NDC's 2020 Peoples Manifesto based on community feedback.
He acknowledged the economic challenges facing the country, emphasizing the NDC's responsibility to revive and transform the economy.
Mahama outlined plans to stimulate the private sector, create jobs, and implement the 24-Hour Economy Initiative to incentivize key sectors.
Mahama pledged to deepen local governance principles, establish agriculture cooperatives, decentralize food procurement in schools, and provide affordable housing for teachers. He also expressed interest in transcribing textbooks onto tablets to address logistics issues in schools.
Promising to operate a lean ministerial portfolio, Mahama capped it at 60 if elected. The campaign tour concluded at the St Francis College of Education in Hohoe after a town hall meeting at the Ho Technical University.
Leaders of the Volta Region House of Chiefs welcomed Mahama, expressing gratitude for his support to flood and tidal wave victims.
However, they cautioned against the use of inflammatory language in political campaigns and urged Mahama to address environmental concerns, and corruption, and recognize traditional leaders.
Togbe Afede, in a concluding remark, emphasized that Mahama's envisioned policies could only succeed if corruption was effectively addressed.
