If the Volta Region of Ghana were a country, its potential would rival that of many mid-income nations such as Malta or Mauritius. Nestled between river, lake, mountain and coast, this undervalued gem boasts the raw ingredients to build a resilient, $10 billion economy if only we stop treating it as a footnote in national development plans and start seeing it as a central economic engine in its own right.

The Foundation Is There

From the vast Volta Lake to the meandering River Dayi, the region’s freshwater endowment is unmatched in West Africa. Its climate and topography are suited to diverse, high-value agriculture from rice, cassava and vegetables to mangoes and cocoa. It is also one of the few regions where Ghana’s north–south and east–west ecological belts converge. The potential for agribusiness, aquaculture and renewable energy is profound.

Yet, Volta is neither known for economic ambition nor industrial progress. This is not because of a lack of resources or talent but due to chronic underinvestment, fragmented planning and political neglect. It's time to flip that script.

What Must Be Done

Water Resource Capitalisation

Volta Lake is the world’s largest man-made lake. Beyond electricity, it can support:

Mass-scale aquaculture, with the potential to supply fish to Ghana and export markets

Inland port development to reduce cargo pressure on Tema

Tourism infrastructure: cruises, lakefront resorts and eco-lodges could drive a tourism economy similar to Lake Victoria’s contribution to Uganda and Kenya

Tourism and Cultural Enterprise

The region is a visual feast: Amedzofe hills, Afadjato, Wli Falls, Mount Gemi, Keta Lagoon and centuries of Ewe culture and crafts. But poor access roads, minimal marketing and lack of hospitality infrastructure block its rise.

Create a Volta Tourism Development Authority to coordinate public-private partnerships. Package tourism routes with festivals, beaches and eco-resorts. Enable local ownership of lodges and art enterprises to anchor wealth within the region.

Agriculture and Food Processing

Volta could be Ghana’s leading food basket, yet too much produce rots before reaching urban centers. To fix this, build agro-processing hubs in Hohoe, Kpeve and Sogakope for cassava, rice, tomatoes and pepper. Use industrial-scale irrigation from the Volta River and Dayi River to de-risk farming. Train youth in agri-entrepreneurship to replace urban drift with rural enterprise.

Brick, Tile and Quarry Economy

The red, laterite-rich soils and granite belts of the Volta Region can birth a full-scale construction ecosystem. Encourage local governments to use brick and stone over cement blocks for affordable housing and roads. Offer tax breaks to brick-and-tile manufacturers and stone quarries that operate sustainably and hire locally. Export Volta stone and clay tiles regionally to Togo, Benin and Nigeria.

Education and Talent Hubs

Ho is already a centre of learning. Why not build on this? Develop tertiary campuses with global linkage, especially in agriculture, environmental science and design. Attract regional conferences, education tourism and short-term exchange programs. Expand technical institutes in Anloga, Keta and Hohoe to train for agro, marine and eco-industries.

The $10 Billion Question

Can this all add up to $10 billion?

Absolutely.

Start with:

Agro-processing and aquaculture: $2B

Tourism, hospitality, creative arts: $1.5B

Brick, quarry, construction supply: $1.5B

Education, healthcare and knowledge services: $1B

Manufacturing and light industry: $2B

Trade and logistics, including Volta Lake port: $2B

This is not fantasy. It’s the grounded arithmetic of vision, investment and coordination.

Conclusion

The Volta Region doesn’t need handouts. It needs recognition as a strategic growth frontier. It must move from a sleepy border region to a mid-income sub-national economy, much like how Indian states like Kerala or Vietnamese provinces like Bình Dương have transformed.

A $10 billion economy is within reach in the next 10 to 15 years, but only if planners, politicians, investors and people begin thinking beyond what is, and imagining what could be.

Volta is not Ghana’s backyard. It is a sleeping giant. Wake it up.

Kwame Sowu is an entrepreneur and writer interested in regional development and economic transformation.