Volta Region

Volta
Region
Location of Volta in Ghana
Districts of Volta as of 2004
Country	Ghana
Capital	Ho
Districts	25
Government
• Regional Minister	Archibald Yao Letsa[1]
Area
• Total	20,570 km2 (7,940 sq mi)
Area rank	Ranked 5th
Population (2010 Census)
• Total	2,118,252
• Rank	Ranked 7th
• Density	100/km2 (270/sq mi)
GDP (PPP)
• Year	2014
• Per capita	$3,974
GDP (Nominal)
• Year	2014
• Per capita	$1,902
Time zone	GMT
Area code(s)	036
ISO 3166 code	GH-TV

Volta Region (or Volta), is one of Ghana's ten administrative regions, with Ho designated as its capital. It is located west of Republic of Togo and to the east of Lake Volta. Divided into 25 administrative districts, the region is multi-ethnic and multilingual, including groups such as the Ewe, the Guan, and the Akan peoples. The Guan peoples include the Lolobi, Likpe, Akpafu, Buem, and Nkonya people, et al.

List of districts

The region has 25 districts consisting of 5 municipal and 20 ordinary districts with all the administrative changes as of December 2012.^[2]

Education

Universities

• University of Health and Allied Sciences
• Evangelical Presbyterian University College
• Volta University College
• Ho Technical University

Background

British Togoland shown in pale green

The Volta region was formed by the state union of the former British Togoland which was part of the German protectorate of Togoland. It was administered as part of the Gold Coast by the British and later renamed Trans-Volta Togoland.^[3]

Togoland Congress

The Togoland Congress (TCP) was a political party formed in 1951 to campaign for the unification of the Ewe people in British Togoland and French Togoland as a separate Ewe state. The party was defeated in the May 1956 UN plebiscite in British Togoland, which resulted in the unification of British Trans-Volta Togoland with Gold Coast, which later became independent as Ghana.^[4]

On 9 May 1956, a vote was conducted to decide the future disposition of British Trans-Volta Togoland and French Togoland. The native and dominant ethnic group, the Ewe people, were divided between the two Togos. 58% of British Trans-Volta Togoland inhabitants voted in favor of state union with the Gold Coast, and the Togo Ewe state was incorporated with Gold Coast.

There was vocal opposition to the incorporation of Togoland into modern Ghana, from the Ewe people who voted (42%) against in British Togoland, as the Ewe wanted the unification of the Ewe people in British Togoland and French Togoland as a separate Ewe state (modern Togo).^[5]

Demographics

The native and largest ethnic group of the Volta Region (Togoland / British Togoland) are the Ewe people (68.5% of the population). They consist of several sub groups such as the Anlo Ewe, Tongu Ewe, Wedome and Avenor Ewe. Other ethnicities include the Guan people (forming 9.2% of the population), the Akan people (8.5%), and the Gurma people (6.5% of the population).^[6]

Moving Forward

Todzie Region is the given name for the new region that some citizens are advocating to be carved out from the Volta Region, as a separate region. The proposed Todzie Region will occupy the entire southern part of Volta Region and was formerly part of the Gold Coast since 1850. According to some Voltarians, if the new region is approved by the government, Keta will be designated as the capital.

Districts in Todzie Region

There are a total of 8 district administrative divisions within the presumed Todzie Region consisting of 2 municipal and 6 ordinary, as of December 2012.^[7]

Administration

The Volta region is run by a Regional Coordinating Council (RCC) and a District Assembly. The RCC is made up of the Volta Regional Minister who is the political head and his deputy as well as representatives of the Regional House of Chiefs, the District Chief Executives of the Volta region, the Presiding Members of the 12 Districts Assemblies and representatives of the various decentralized Ministries, Departments and Agencies in the Volta region. Each district is run by a District Assembly.^[8]

Regional Commissioners and Ministers

• Francis Yao Asare
• Lieutenant Commander G.K. Amevor
• F.Q. Amegah
• Francis Agbley
• Modestus Ahiable
• Charles K. Agbenaza
• Kwasi Owusu-Yeboah, 2001 – 2005
• Kofi Dzamesi 2005 – 2009
• Joseph Amenowode, 2009 – 2012
• Henry Ford Kamel, 2012(Deceased)^[9]
• Helen Ntoso, 2012-

Constituencies

The Volta Region has 26 constituencies since the recent December 2012 parliamentary election,^[10] increasing by 4 from the previous 22 which it had during the December 2004 parliamentary election and At the election in December 2000, there were 19 constituencies.

Tourism

The Tourism lco is Hon. Quentin G. S. K. Paawillee, from Tafi Agome, in the Volta Region of Ghana.

Recreation areas

Museum

• Volta Regional Museum

Mountains

• Mount Afadjato
• Mount Adaklu

Other Tourist Attractions

Waterfalls

• Tafi Agome Caves
• Tafi Atome Monkey Sentery
• Wli Waterfalls
• Tagbo Falls
• Amedzofe Falls
• Biakpa Falls and Caves
• Kpoeta waterfalls (at Ho West District)
• Mount Afajato
• Mount Gemi

Famous native citizens

References

External links

• Tourism – Volta Region
• Volta Region from statoids.com
• Volta Region – Districts

Coordinates: 7°00′N 0°30′E / 7.000°N 0.500°E / 7.000; 0.500