Government has pledged to work with the Volta Regional Minister and relevant government institutions to help coordinate and remove avoidable institutional bottlenecks affecting credible investment projects emerging from the Volta Economic Forum.
The commitment was contained in an address delivered on behalf of the Chief of Staff, Hon. Julius Debrah by Hon. Ernest Brogya Genfi, Presidential Adviser on National Resilience and Emergency Preparedness, at the 2026 Asohli Teza Edition of the Volta Economic Forum in Ho.
The Forum was held under the theme “From Opportunity Showcase to Investment Execution.”
Brogya Genfi said the Chief of Staff’s role within the Presidency provided an opportunity to help bring ministries and agencies together where inter-institutional coordination was required to move viable projects from conception to implementation.
“The Chief of Staff sees every day how easily a sound project can slow down when institutions work in isolation. His role is to help the President translate policy into results by bringing ministries and agencies around the same table, tracking decisions and clearing avoidable obstacles,” he said.
He therefore assured stakeholders that the Office of the Chief of Staff was prepared to support credible projects emerging from the Forum that required coordination at the national level.
“The Office of the President stands ready to work with the Regional Minister and the relevant institutions on credible projects from this Forum that require coordination at the centre,” Brogya Genfi said.
Brogya Genfi, however, stressed that government coordination could only be effective if project promoters undertook the necessary preparatory work before approaching investors or government. He said investors could not be expected to finance broad concepts or potential without the basic technical, commercial and financial information required to assess a project.
According to him, serious project proposals must establish whether the land is secured, whether feasibility studies have been completed, what regulatory approvals are required, who will purchase the product or service, how much capital is needed and what return investors can reasonably expect.
“Investors cannot finance potential in the abstract. A serious proposal must answer basic questions: Is the land secure? Has the feasibility work been done? What approvals are required? Who will buy the product or service? How much capital is needed, and what return can the investor reasonably expect?” he said.
Brogya Genfi further challenged the organisers of the Forum to develop a short, prioritised pipeline of investment-ready projects rather than allowing discussions at the event to end with general expressions of interest. He proposed that every project emerging from the Forum should have an identified lead, a defined financing requirement, a clear next decision and a timetable for follow-up.
He also called for a dedicated team to track commitments and report regularly on progress.
“When we meet again, our agenda should begin with an honest account of what moved, what stalled and what must be fixed,” he said.
The emphasis on project preparation and follow-through comes as Government advances the Volta Economic Corridor, which has been approved as a national project and designated Ghana’s first net-zero economic corridor. The VRA, 24-Hour Economy and Accelerated Export Development Secretariat and Ghana Infrastructure Investment Fund began negotiations in August on a Master Concession Agreement aimed at establishing a commercial and legal framework for attracting long-term private investment.
Brogya Genfi said the responsibility for translating the region’s investment potential into economic activity could not rest with Government alone.
He indicated that Government must provide stable policy, enabling infrastructure and timely decisions, while financial institutions needed to develop financing instruments suited to sectors such as agriculture, tourism, manufacturing and growing local enterprises.
Traditional authorities, he added, had an important role in land access, community confidence and protecting investments over the long term.The private sector, meanwhile, needed to bring capital, management expertise and market discipline.
“When each party does its part, good projects have a genuine chance to succeed,” he said.
The speech also placed emphasis on ensuring that investment in the Volta Region translates into opportunities for local residents.
Brogya Genfi said major investments should create opportunities for farmers, artisans, transport operators, suppliers and young professionals, while women-led businesses and young entrepreneurs should have fair access to procurement, training and finance. “Development becomes real when families can trace it to a job, a reliable market or a stronger local business,” he said.
He specifically referenced farmers in South Tongu who need dependable buyers, young entrepreneurs in Ho seeking to expand their businesses and fishermen along the Volta Lake who require facilities such as cold storage.
He said these groups represented the real beneficiaries whose lives should ultimately reflect the success of investment initiatives discussed at the Forum. Brogya Genfi said the success of the Forum should ultimately be measured by tangible economic outcomes.
He added, “The Volta Region has spent enough time being described as a place of promise. Let this Forum help turn that promise into progress people can see and livelihoods they can feel.”
