Accra: The Volta Regional branch of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) has expressed strong support for the 2025 Mid-Year Budget, commending President John Dramani Mahama for taking swift steps towards addressing the region's infrastructure and economic needs. However, civil society groups and some residents have raised concerns over the limited scope of road project allocations in the budget, calling for broader inclusion and sustainable construction strategies.
According to Ghana News Agency, a statement signed by the NDC's Regional Communications Officer, Mr. Kafui Agbleze, described the budget as a promising start, with major infrastructure projects already underway within six months of the President's administration. 'The people of Volta Region express their profound gratitude and satisfaction with the 2025 Mid-Year Budget,' the statement said. 'We are already witnessing significant steps toward infrastructural transformation and economic revitalization.'
The NDC praised the commencement of work on the Ho to Kpetoe, Kpetoe to Afiadenyigba, Afiadenyigba to Penyi, and Penyi to Aflao roads, which it said form the backbone of transportation linking the northern and southern parts of the region. According to the party, these roads are crucial to unlocking regional trade and mobility. 'These projects reflect President Mahama's unwavering commitment to regional development,' Mr. Agbleze noted. 'Commuters and traders alike are hopeful that these roads will be completed on schedule.'
The statement also highlighted the initiation of the coastal defense project to address persistent erosion along the Volta coastline. The NDC lauded the project as a critical intervention in protecting lives, livelihoods, and properties in vulnerable communities such as Keta and Anloga. In addition, the allocation of $30 million for the construction of a modern market in Aflao was described as a landmark investment in trade and economic empowerment for the people of Ketu South.
However, critics have pushed back, arguing that the current allocations address only a fraction of the region's infrastructural challenges. They pointed to longstanding road concerns in agrarian areas that continue to suffer from neglect. Roads cited include the Sokode Gborgame through Akrofu to Bame stretch, the Ziavi to Anfoeta road, the Kpenoe to Hodzo link, Dzolo Gborgame through Dodome to Kpedze, and the Bame to Kpeve route. These areas serve as key agricultural corridors that supply food to the regional capital, Ho.
'These are not just roads; they are the arteries of our food system,' one resident lamented. 'Year after year, we're promised rehabilitation, but what we receive are short-term patches.' Critics also argued that the approach of simply patching roads has failed the region over the past eight years, leading to rapid deterioration after each rainy season. 'We are tired of cosmetic repairs,' a civil society leader in Ho stated. 'We demand durable road construction, not political gestures. The region deserves better.'
Despite the criticism, the Volta NDC maintained that the President's intentions and initial steps were commendable and called for patience and continued engagement with the government to ensure wider coverage in future allocations. 'We believe this is just the beginning,' Mr. Agbleze asserted. 'As development continues, all major concerns will be addressed in due course.' The Mid-Year Budget has sparked debates across the capital, with proponents praising its focus on infrastructure and critics urging for more equitable distribution of resources. In Volta Region, expectations remain high as the government's development agenda unfolds.
