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Wikipedia / Volta Region

Volta Region (or Volta) is one of Ghana's sixteen administrative regions, with Ho designated as its capital. Other major towns in the region include Anloga, Keta, Hohoe, Aflao, Sogakope, Akatsi, Juapong, Denu and many others. It is located in the eastern part of Republic of Ghana. Divided into 18 administrative districts, the region is multi-ethnic and multilingual, including groups such as the Ewe, the Guan, Ga-Adangme, Akan people, Hausa and other minority groups. The Guan peoples, prior to the creation of the Oti Region included the Lolobi, Likpe, Akpafu, Akyode, Buem, , Avatime (located in the Agortime-Ziope district, remains an integral part of the Volta Region) and Nkonya.

The people of the Volta Region are popularly known as Voltarians (). This group includes the Ewes, Guans and other minor tribes living in the Volta Region. The people of the Volta Region are popular known for their rich cultural display and music some of which include Agbadza, Borborbor and Zigi.

Background

The Volta region was formed by the state union of the former British Togoland which had been 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.

Demographics

The native and largest ethnic group of the Volta Region are the Ewe people (68.5% of the population). They consist of several subgroups such as the Anlo Ewe, Tongu Ewe, Wedome Ewe, Ave Ewe 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). The main languages of the region are Ewe and English.

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.

Regional Commissioners and Ministers

The current Regional Minister, James Gunu was appointed in January 2025.

Administrative divisions

Before the regional demarcation in December 2018, the region had 25 MMDA's (made up of 0 Metropolitan, 5 Municipal and 20 Ordinary Assemblies) with all the administrative changes as of December 2012. After the census, the Oti Region was carved out of it, reducing the size of the region and the number of administrative districts to 18.

The political administration of the region is through the local government system. Under this administration system, the region is divided into 18 MMDA's (made up of 0 Metropolitan, 6 Municipal and 12 Ordinary Assemblies). Each District, Municipal or Metropolitan Assembly, is administered by a Chief Executive, representing the central government but deriving authority from an Assembly headed by a presiding member elected from among the members themselves. The current list is as follows:

The following districts are now within the boundaries of the Oti Region which was formally created on 15 February 2019.

Constituencies

There are 18 constituencies in the region after the Oti Region was carved out of it. Previously, Volta Region had 19 constituencies in the election in December 2000 and 24 constituencies in December 2004 parliamentary election. Four new constituencies were created by the Electoral Commission prior to the December 2012 parliamentary election, increasing the number of constituencies to 26.

Education

Universities

Nurses' Training and Colleges of Education

Senior High Schools

Health

The Volta Regional Hospital is located at Ho. It is popularly referred to as Trafalgar. The inception of the University of Health and Allied Sciences (UHAS) at Ho has led to it being redesignated as the Ho Teaching Hospital in 2019. Other government run health facilities in the capital are the Ho Municipal Hospital and the Ho Polyclinic. Hospitals in the region include:

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.

On 9 May 1956, a vote was conducted to decide the future disposition of British Togoland and French Togoland. The native and dominant ethnic group, the Ewe people, were divided between the two Togos. British 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).

Recently, a campaign for the cessation of some part of the Volta Region from Ghana to be known as "Western Togoland" is being led by a group calling itself Homeland Study Group Foundation. The group is led by Charles Kormi Kudzodzi.

Tourism

Recreation areas

Museum

Mountains

Other tourist attractions

Waterfalls

Notable citizens

References