President John Dramani Mahama on Friday assured the Chiefs and People of the Volta Region of their fair share of the national cake.

He said the agriculture and agribusiness sector of the Region would be a number one priority of the Government.

“And I assure you that Volta Region will receive its fair share. One project we target is the Volta Palm Initiative,” he said.

“This is a private initiative that has begun already, but the Government is going to provide resources to expand it, so that the Volta Region can become the centre of oil palm production and processing into vegetable cooking oil.”

President Mahama stated this in Ho at the durbar of the Chiefs and People of the Volta Region, during his “Thank You Tour” of the Region.

The nationwide tour, which began from Ho, will enable the President to express his appreciation to the people of Ghana for the overwhelming support and trust reposed in him at the 2024 elections.

The President said the Government was going to support the rice farmers in Afife and other parts of the Volta Region with equipment and capital to expand their rice production.

He said the Government would also provide them with processing capacity to be able to produce a Volta brand of rice for the domestic market to reduce our imports.

On the Oti Region, President Mahama said areas in Oti and parts of Northern Volta Region that produced ginger would have processing plants to produce ginger powder, ginger oil, and others for export.

He said the Tongu area, which was a center for cassava production, would also receive a cassava processing plant to process cassava into various useful items. “In my first term in office, we deliberately set out to increase cocoa production in the Volta Region,” he said.

“And so, we established several seedling banks to provide free seedlings and extension services to young people who wish to go into cocoa farming. Since we left the office, that project has not been pursued.”

The President assured the Chiefs and People of the Volta Region that the Government was going to start it again, expand cocoa production, so that Region would become one of the major producers of cocoa in Ghana.

“The road ahead will not be easy, and I don’t underestimate the task ahead of us.

But we can build the Ghana that we all want together,” he said.

“And therefore, let us rise above our divisions and work hand in hand to create a nation where every Ghanaian has the opportunity to thrive. Our differences must be a strength and not a weakness.”

President Mahama said the Volta Region had always been a beacon of hope, and that he was confident that with the continuous support of the Chiefs and People, the Government would achieve great things.

“Let us move forward with unity and determination, and I believe that the future of our nation is bright. May God bless our homeland, Ghana.”

Togbe Tepre Hodo IV, the President of the Volta Region House of Chiefs, in speech read on his behalf, reminded President Mahama of his campaign promises to the Region.

He appealed to the Government to fix the roads in the Region and explore the Region’s agricultural potential.

Togbe Hodo also appealed to the President for the operationalisation of the Ho Airport.

Togbe Afede XIV, the Agbogbomefia of the Asogli State and President of Asogli Traditional Area, told the President and his appointees that the only be fitting tribute that they could pay to the memory of the founding fathers of their Party, the National Democratic Congress (NDC) was uphold the principles of transparency, probity and accountability.