Africa-Press – Ghana. The Asuogyaman District is preparing to play a central role in the government’s proposed Volta Economic Corridor initiative, focusing on irrigation, tourism, investment, and environmental preservation.
District authorities, in collaboration with chiefs and residents, will work with stakeholders to harness Volta Lake for irrigation and tourism under a private sector-led model.
Mr. Godwin Bobobee, District Chief Executive of Asuogyaman, told the Ghana News Agency that the Assembly would, in alignment with President Dramani Mahama’s vision, assist private sector actors by streamlining regulatory procedures where needed, while maintaining the integrity of existing systems.
The corridor project, part of the 24-Hour Economy initiative, aims to transform the Volta Lake region into an economic growth zone, featuring irrigation systems and tourism infrastructure.
It forms part of a spatial-industrial development plan to convert the Volta River Basin into a logistics and production backbone, anchoring agroecological parks, industrial hubs, and inland water transport systems to promote north-south integration and enhance rural-urban connectivity.
Mr Bobobee said the Assembly would work closely with private investors to uphold standards in service delivery and infrastructure. “We are collaborating with the private sector to ensure the right structures are put up,” he added.
He noted that resolving land tenure challenges and ensuring community participation were key to the project’s success.
“When private investors come in with capital, we as local authorities must engage our chiefs and communities to understand the opportunities, job creation, local development, and improved livelihoods,” he said.
While welcoming development, Mr Bobobee stressed the importance of preserving the district’s natural environment.
“Asuogyaman is still largely untouched. We have mountains, forests, and no large-scale environmental degradation like cannabis cultivation,” he said.
To safeguard ecological integrity, the Assembly has launched tree planting initiatives, including the national “Tree for Life” programme.
“Just this last week we distributed over 4,000 oil palm seedlings to farmers just yesterday. We are promoting both ornamental and cash crop trees to preserve the green cover,” he revealed.
An official acknowledged that land tenure complexities often hinder conservation efforts but highlighted ongoing collaboration with traditional leaders to protect sensitive areas such as ridges and forests from unregulated development.
“It is about preserving our virginity, so to speak,” the DCE said.
“Through partnerships with our chiefs and communities, we hope to maintain our district’s ecological balance while opening it up for sustainable development.”
Asuogyaman district is positioning itself as a model district to balance economic growth with environmental sustainability and inclusive governance, as momentum builds around the Volta Economic Corridor, the official noted.
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