The Volta Region has declared its readiness to take centre stage in Ghana’s 24-Hour Economy initiative as government officials, investors, and development partners convened at the maiden Volta Economic Forum 2025 to map out strategies for inclusive industrial growth and sustainable transformation.
The Volta Economic Forum, held at the Reddington Beach Resort in Whuti under the theme “Harnessing the Volta Corridor Potentials for the 24-Hour Economy Take-Off,” brought together policymakers, private sector actors, and international partners to explore how the Volta Economic Corridor can serve as the anchor for Ghana’s next phase of economic acceleration.
The Volta Regional Minister stated that the region is fully equipped to drive Ghana’s 24-Hour Economy by leveraging its geographical advantage, rich natural resources, and skilled human capital.
“The Volta Corridor stands as one of Ghana’s most strategically endowed development zones—an intersection of trade, energy, agriculture, tourism, and innovation. From the Aflao border and Keta Lagoon Basin through Ho and Kpando to the Oti interface, our geography connects markets, our people produce value, and our resources promise competitiveness.”
He revealed that the Volta Regional Coordinating Council (VRCC) has profiled over 50 investment-ready projects across sectors such as agro-processing, aquaculture, logistics, eco-tourism, ICT, and renewable energy.
To facilitate investor confidence and ease of doing business, the VRCC has also established a One-Stop Investor Facilitation Desk and district-level investment teams to support projects from concept to commissioning.
“Together, we will ensure that commitments made here translate into jobs, infrastructure, and prosperity for our people. Let us seize this moment to make the Volta Economic Corridor the new frontier of Ghana’s inclusive industrialisation.”
The Deputy Chief of Staff, who served as Special Guest of Honour, emphasised the need for greater collaboration among all stakeholders to unlock the full potential of the Volta Corridor.
Describing the Volta Region as “a land of natural wealth and power, fertile plains, rolling mountains, and boundless waters,” she highlighted its critical role in the 24-Hour Economy Agenda.
She pointed to key ongoing projects, including the Volta Corridor Investment Centre (VCIC), Volta Economic Embassy, and Keta Port Project, as major catalysts positioning the region for rapid industrial and commercial expansion.
She stated that the government’s 24-Hour Economy Plus Initiative aims to generate over one million jobs and attract more than US$1 billion in investments, transforming the Volta Corridor into a dynamic trade and logistics hub.
She also cited growing international recognition of Ghana’s policy, including acknowledgements at the Africa-Singapore Business Forum and support pledges from the UK Government’s Jobs and Economic Transformation Programme and the African Development Bank.
“The Volta Economic Corridor stands as a living testament to what can happen when vision meets collaboration. Through this corridor, we can expand access to energy, create jobs for our youth, and open new frontiers of trade that link Ghana to her neighbours and to the world.”
The Minister for Food and Agriculture said Dr Kwame Nkrumah’s original vision for the Volta River Project sought to integrate energy, industry, and agriculture as the pillars of national development.
“This grand design was anchored on three interlinked pillars—hydropower development, industrialisation, and agricultural modernisation—to make the Volta Basin the nucleus of Ghana’s balanced regional development.”
He stated that the 24-Hour Economy Policy revitalises this legacy, positioning the Volta Region as the industrial and agricultural heartbeat of Ghana’s transformation agenda.
He added that the vast agricultural lands in Afife, Aveyime, and Adidome, and the region’s expanding logistics infrastructure—including the Eastern Corridor Road and the proposed Trans-Volta Logistics Network—are assets that will drive food production and exports.
With Ghana importing over US$3 billion worth of food annually, he disclosed that two million hectares of arable land within the Volta Economic Corridor will be developed for large-scale agriculture under the 24-Hour Economy framework.
The Volta Economic Forum 2025, jointly organised by the Volta Corridor Investment Centre (VCIC), the Volta Regional Coordinating Council, and the National Development Planning Commission (NDPC), formed part of this year’s Hogbetsotsoza celebrations.
The event called for renewed unity, innovation, and decisive action to transform the Volta Corridor into the cornerstone of Ghana’s 24-Hour Economy—a policy designed to boost productivity, create jobs, and enhance national competitiveness around the clock.
By: Daniel Orlando/newsalertgh.com
