Hohoe: A Community Development Strategic Plan aimed at fostering development and growth has been launched by the Gbi-Bla Division of the Gbi Traditional Area in the Hohoe Municipality of the Volta Region. The 62-page plan, titled ‘Gbi-Bla Traditional Authority Chiefdom of Buami,’ spans from 2025 to 2045 and includes a comprehensive framework for the community’s progress.
According to Ghana News Agency, the Division also introduced its Administrative Procedures, which set the standards for the secular administration of the Gbi-Bla community under the leadership of Togbe Buami IX, the Chief of Gbi-Bla. Togbe Buami IX emphasized that the plan serves as a roadmap for the community’s development, requiring the commitment of all citizens, support from non-governmental organizations, benevolent individuals, businesses, and the government.
In his address, Togbe Buami IX highlighted that the plan was developed through research and analysis of past and current contexts in Gbi-Bla, Hohoe, and its surrounding communities, as well as the broader Volta and Oti regions. A comprehensive consultation and engagement process with stakeholders informed the strategic objectives and action plan implementation.
The plan identifies five thematic areas: governance, physical development, economic and financial development, education and health, and cultural heritage and recreation. Togbe Dzidoah I, Sub-Divisional Chief of Gbi-Abansi, stated that modern chiefs should be visionary leaders who balance tradition with innovation to promote development.
Togbe Dzidoah emphasized the role of chiefs as custodians of heritage and development, advocating for peace, stability, and unity. He noted the importance of mobilizing people around shared visions for progress and representing community interests in engagements with governments and other stakeholders.
Mama Ama Serwaa III, Queen of Gbi-Bla, described the plan as a clarion call for accountability in customary governance. She stressed the importance of preserving cultural heritage and the natural environment while focusing on individual and communal development. The queen expressed appreciation for the efforts in preparing the plan and counted on all stakeholders to pursue the goals aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Mr. Thomas Worlanyo Tsekpo, Hohoe Constituency Member of Parliament, praised Togbe Buami as a modern traditional ruler and pledged support from his office and the National Democratic Congress (NDC) for the plan’s realization. Mr. Prosper Kumi, Hohoe Municipal Chief Executive, commended the Division for its strategic plan, which he said would also assist the Assembly in formulating its plans for community development.
