The hierarchy of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) in the Volta Region has debunked claims that the region has been neglected by President John Evans Atta Mills’ administration. At a well-attended press conference in Ho last Monday, Mr Joseph Amenowode, the Volta Regional Minister, disclosed that no government in the history of this country had ever done so much for a region in 30 months like what the NDC government had done for the region. Mr Amenowode, flanked by Mr Dan Abodakpi, Ghana’s Ambassador to Malaysia, and Mr Henry Ford Kamel, Member of Parliament for Buem opined that “this is the best government for the region”. The minister said the two pressing problems facing the region, namely the construction of the eastern corridor road and the University of Allied Sciences which was a promise made to the people of the region, were being given due attention by the President. He revealed that the Bill which would facilitate the construction of the university had been gazetted and awaiting the 21-day gestation period and this was the factor accounting for the delay, adding that an 800-acre land had already been acquired for infrastructural development. On the eastern corridor road, Mr Amenowode said funds had been secured from the European Union (EU) and ECOWAS whilst Parliament had voted GH¢100 million for the commencement of the project in two months. He said 120 schools which were formerly operating under trees had been constructed. In addition to 220 classroom blocks at the basic school and senior high school level, 100 projects have either been completed or were ongoing including administration blocks, classrooms, dormitories among others across the region. On roads, he said the Dzodze - Akatsi road had been completed since 2009 whilst Dzodze - Akano, Sogakope – Adidome - Fume, Ho - Nyive - Shia roads among others were ongoing in addition to the over 100 kilometers of roads under MIDA projects in four districts. The Regional Minister said the NDC government appreciated and understood the anxiety of the chiefs and people in the region and gave an assurance that the President would not renege on his campaign promises to ensure that life became better for the people. It would be recalled that a group within the ruling NDC in the region expressed concerns about the level of development in the region. The leader of the Youth for Action Group, Alhaji Bello, told Joy News that the region had been so much neglected that he wondered if Volta Region was part of Ghana. According to him, the famous culture of sod-cutting and inauguration of projects, which have become synonymous with the President Mills administration throughout his regional tours, is yet to be seen in the Volta Region largely because there are no projects yet to be inaugurated. “The few sods which were cut in the region in respect of the construction of the university and the eastern corridor road are yet to see the light of day,” he stressed. Source: Daily Graphic/Ghana