Ho, may 21, GNA - Professor Kofi Awoonor, Chairman of the Council of=

State, on Friday said demands for the development of the Volta Region wer= e not parochial. He said that "Volta Region's development is not in isolation of Ghan= a's development but linked to the total development of Ghana." Professor Awoonor gave the explanation when he explained the rationa= le and framework of a two-day stakeholders' forum on the development of the Volta region in Ho, on the theme: "A better Volta region in a better Ghan= a." He said the Volta Region has suffered deficits in development since independence and the current administration was to be held accountable fo= r some of the "forgotten duties" not done by its predecessors. Prof. Awoonor said that President John Evans Atta Mills was so far o= n track in meeting his promises to the region and needed to be constantly reminded of his pledges.

Chairman of the Council of State said that he was optimistic that th= e President would meet the best portion of these demands during his first term. Prof Awoonor said that the forum should come out with recommendation= s that would sell favourably to government and development partners. He charged government officials from the region to adopt the report of the meeting and carry it forward. Prof Awoonor said that many Ghanaians thought that to talk about th= e Volta region was to talk about the Ewes.

He explained that on the contrary, "Ewes don't own the Volta Region they are a significant part just as they are a significant part of other parts of the country." Prof Awoonor said that the Volta Region was a "microcosm" of Ghana because it bears all the characteristics of Ghana in terms of its diverse=

tribes, cultures and traditions and natural resources.

He called on the people to unite for the development of the region. Prof Awoonor said that the region may be the longest in Ghana but no= t the largest to warrant its split into two. He said that the colonial history of the region has made its people "restless" but pleaded that agitation for "unification" must remain "only= a dream. United we stand divided we may fall". Dr Bernard Glover, a member of the Council of State, said the outco= me of the forum should not suffer inertia as previous ones. "Now we have to be practical," because it is no use lamenting pover= ty while sitting on potential wealth. Dr. Glover said it was time the region moved from subsistence production and take steps to convert its rich and diverse resources such as salt, tourism and agriculture into giant industries. In his report on the Volta region, the Regional Minister Mr Joseph=

Amenowode said the region had what it takes to move forward with a united=

front. He said those to be charged with the responsibility to implement the=

recommendations of the Forum will be given definite deadlines to deliver. The Forum would deliberate on education, economy and job creation, infrastructure, health, water sanitation, culture and chieftaincy, securi= ty, law and governance among others.