The Volta Region’s longstanding marginalisation in national development discourse must be urgently reversed, says Gabriel Kwamigah Atople, the region’s representative on the Council of State.

He made this call during a strategic engagement with Municipal and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs) from the Volta Region in Accra.

Addressing the delegation after their national orientation, Mr. Atople did not mince words as he described the pattern of neglect the region has faced under successive political regimes.

He emphasised that the time has come for deliberate, united, and results-driven leadership to change the trajectory of development in the Volta Region.

“The region has endured a consistent pattern of neglect, often being overlooked in national development priorities. This historical imbalance must be corrected. Our people deserve more, and we must lead the change,” he declared.

Mr. Atople commended the MMDCEs for their unity and commitment to service, describing their visit as a strong signal of readiness to confront challenges collectively and to reimagine the Volta Region’s future.

He assured them of his full support and emphasized his ongoing efforts to engage both local and international partners to attract the investments and attention the region requires.

“My office is actively engaging with both local and international actors to ensure that our collective efforts yield tangible and lasting outcomes,” he said.

The MMDCEs, in turn, presented key development concerns across their respective jurisdictions, highlighting urgent needs in agriculture, aquaculture, tourism, industrial development, infrastructure, and youth employment.

Their submissions, Mr. Atople noted, reflected both a deep understanding of local issues and a shared urgency to act.

Quoting Andrew Carnegie, he remarked, “Teamwork is the fuel that allows common people to attain uncommon results,” reinforcing his call for inter-district collaboration and strategic partnerships to accelerate development.

“This is not a call for charity; it is a demand for equity. Through collaboration, strategic vision, and unwavering advocacy, we will convert the challenges before us into platforms for growth and prosperity,” he added.

Mr. Atople left the meeting inspired by the sense of purpose displayed by the local government leaders and reaffirmed his belief that transformative change is possible when leaders work together beyond politics.

“We owe it to our people to rise beyond our individual mandates and pursue a collective regional agenda. The transformation of the Volta Region will not be accidental — it will be intentional, strategic, and bold. One step at a time.”

The meeting concluded with renewed commitments to shared leadership, cross-district innovation, and sustained advocacy to reposition the Volta Region as a model of inclusive development in Ghana.