Volta Region On "Reconciliation" Path With NPP

Togbui Afari Satsimadza II of Klikor has called on the government, the chiefs and people of the Volta Region to forge a positive partnership to their mutual benefit.

He said he was optimistic that the New Patriotic Party (NPP) stood the chance of winning the support of the region if the government demonstrated its commitment to the development of the region.

Togbui Satsimadza, who was addressing a news conference at Ho, said the NPP would find the people of the region very reliable and sincere when their development aspirations were met.

He, therefore, appealed to President John Agyekum Kufuor to put aside the political animosity between the people of the region and his party and prove the sceptics wrong.

Togbui Satsimadza called on the people to change their mentality towards the NPP and rally behind the government to bring "positive change" to the region.

He said the region will experience investment boom, jobs and improved standards of living when its infrastructure is well developed.

Togbui Satsimadza, therefore, called on chiefs in the region to speak out about the realities of the region and not be cowed by the prohibition of chiefs from active politicking.

"Let our voice become one," he said, adding, "I am prepared to talk the truth and die for it."

Togbui Satsimadza said the prohibition of chiefs from engaging in active politics was unrealistic and called on the government to initiate action to expunge that provision from the 1992 Constitution.

He said "politics is a reality of life and chiefs should also be allowed to take active part in it."

During Election 2000, the blatant and biased attitude of voters in the Volta Region caused much concern among political observers. The Region turned out exclusively for the NDC and was a no-go area for other parties, especially the NPP. Party agents who were not NDC were assaulted and in certain cases, threatened with death. In Parliament, the Minority NDC benches are therefore dominated by Volta Region MPs.

Togbui Satsimadza's extension of the olive branch to the NPP government must therefore be considered as a major break with the past, signalling the political opening up of the Volta Region.