By: Jones Anlimah
The Volta Regional Minister, Mr. James Gunu, has reiterated the government’s commitment to delivering on key development promises in the Ketu South Municipality during a working visit.
The tour formed part of the minister’s broader regional engagement strategy aimed at coordinating government policies and development initiatives, while deepening collaboration with traditional leaders, local authorities, business entities, and vulnerable communities.
The visit began with a meeting with staff of the Ketu South Municipal Assembly. He also inspected the land earmarked for the proposed Aflao Central Market site before proceeding to Aflao, where he paid a courtesy call on the Paramount Chief of the Aflao Traditional Area, Togbui Amenya Fiti V, at his palace.
Welcoming the Minister, Togbui Fiti praised ongoing efforts to bring development to the border community but called for urgent attention to long-standing infrastructural challenges. He reaffirmed the traditional council’s support for the construction of a modern market in Aflao, a promise first made by former President John Dramani Mahama.
“We are ever ready with a very beautiful land befitting such a market,” Togbui Fiti said, adding that “minor problems” such as the poor condition of the Komla Dumor Road needed to be urgently addressed.
“The Komla Dumor Road is a big name indeed with a poor road which is not befitting of the name,” he noted. “We are calling on the Regional Minister to take the proper step to call that contractor to order.”
Togbui Fiti also used the opportunity to draw attention to other pressing concerns, including the lack of potable water in Aflao and the underdevelopment of key border infrastructure.
“For over 20 years now, we don’t have water enough… No water is going through the pipelines in Aflao,” he said. “Resetting should not be just a slogan. It should reflect in every corner, every activity, every action that we are taking as Ghanaians,” he added.
The Volta Regional Minister expressed confidence that the government would deliver on the market promise, noting that the site inspection was a key milestone. “Now they have gotten the land… we don’t have any excuse,” he stated. “We should go ahead and deliver the market. That is very refreshing.” He added that the project could be executed using alternative models such as Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT), subject to feasibility studies and proper land acquisition procedures.
The Minister also assured that work was underway behind the scenes, and that announcements regarding key road projects including the Tokor–Ho stretch — would be made soon.
“Those who earlier visited this region and inspected these roads will come out with an announcement on when these roads will be awarded finally to the contractors,” he said.
Mr. Gunu then visited the Diamond Cement Ltd. factory, where he lauded the company’s role in local job creation and economic growth.
“We acknowledge the role you are playing as far as the economic development of the area and job creation is concerned,” he said.
He assured the company’s management that their concerns would be forwarded to the appropriate authorities for redress, noting that their operations fall within the government’s 24-hour economic policy.
Mr. Gunu concluded his tour with courtesy calls on Torgbiga Addo VIII in Klikor and Torgbiga Adams III at the Some Traditional Council in Agbozume.
The visit marked the first stop in a series of engagements across all 18 municipalities and districts in the Volta Region, which the Minister said would continue in phases.
“We believe that this is good news for the assemblies because it is bringing back the meaning of local governance and decentralisation,” Mr. Gunu concluded.
