Volta Renaissance Forum Demands Fair Representation in Mahama’s Incoming Administration

The Volta Renaissance Forum (VRF), a prominent pressure group, has called on the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and President-Elect John Dramani Mahama to ensure fair and equitable representation of the Volta Region in the next administration.

In a press statement signed by VRF spokesperson Conqueror Mawudzo Korto, the group stressed the unwavering loyalty of the Volta Region to the NDC, demonstrated by the region’s overwhelming 90.11% endorsement of Mahama in the December 7, 2024, presidential election.

The VRF urged the NDC leadership and Mahama to prioritize appointing individuals who genuinely reflect the aspirations and interests of the Volta Region as lobbying for government positions gains momentum.

Here’s the full statement:

The Volta Renaissance Forum wishes to salute the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and, more especially, the President-Elect, H.E John Dramani Mahama, on their massive victory in the just-ended December 7, 2024, Presidential and Parliamentary Elections. The victory, we believe, is a testament to the faith Ghanaians, including the good people of the Volta Region, have in the NDC. It is without a doubt that the people of the Volta Region have unswervingly kept faith with the NDC over the years and have emphatically demonstrated the same by giving the NDC 90.11% of the presidential votes while ensuring that the New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) votes did not exceed 50% of what they garnered in the 2020 elections.

We also wish to express our profound gratitude to all Voltarians in the diaspora for their support, both human and material, which ensured the party was able to marshal every available resource to motivate high voter turnout, resulting in the massive votes recorded for the NDC in the region and beyond. It is gratifying to note that the immense support of Voltarians in the diaspora contributed to the significant votes secured by the NDC in crucial regions like Ashanti and Greater Accra, as well as other regions, ultimately leading to the large number of seats won by the NDC.

The Forum is aware of the ongoing lobbying for positions by individuals who deem themselves qualified or believe they deserve such roles, which is normal in the formative days of every new government. However, we wish to call on the leadership of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and the President-Elect, H.E John Dramani Mahama, to take the following suggestions into account when appointing persons on behalf of the Volta Region:

1. Ensure fairness in the appointments to guarantee appropriate representation of the Volta Region in the incoming government.
2. Ensure that such individuals are vetted and approved by the Regional Executives of the party, having demonstrated contributions to the party in the region, and are capable of representing the dreams and aspirations of the people. This, we believe, will ensure that appointees serve the interests of the region rather than their personal agendas.
3. Prioritize appointing individuals who understand the developmental challenges of the region, not from a distance, but through lived experience, so they can collaborate effectively to create the right environments and structures for the growth and development of the region.
4. Avoid appointing individuals who identify as Voltarians only when it serves their personal interests.

The Volta Renaissance Forum hereby declares that we shall not hesitate to resist any attempt to impose individuals whose ties to the region cannot be verified, and who cannot genuinely represent the dreams and aspirations of the people of the Volta Region, particularly the devoted supporters of the party whose hard work and dedication secured the resounding victory reflected in the recent election results.

We are, therefore, calling on all well-meaning Voltarians, both at home and abroad, to remain vigilant and stand with us as we work collectively to achieve the growth and development that has eluded us for many years. It is disheartening and frustrating when the NPP consistently accuses the people of the Volta Region of unwavering support for the NDC, despite the absence of significant development projects.

We are confident that the leadership of the party and the President-Elect, H.E John Dramani Mahama, will heed our call and uphold the trust and hope that the region continues to place in the NDC as the only party committed to its development.

May God continue to bless our homeland, Ghana, and make our nation great and strong.

Thank you.