President John Dramani Mahama has called on residents of the Volta Region to protect and enhance the area’s reputation as Ghana’s “oxygen,” stressing that development must go hand in hand with environmental sustainability.
He made the appeal at the sod-cutting ceremony for the Ho Oxygen City Project, a major urban development initiative being implemented in partnership with the Ho Municipal Assembly and the Tema Development Corporation (TDC).
According to President Mahama, the Volta Region’s rich greenery and natural endowments are priceless and should be preserved even as infrastructure and urban growth accelerate. He explained that the Oxygen City Project is deliberately structured to integrate modern urban facilities with environmentally responsible planning to ensure development does not undermine ecological balance.
He urged traditional leaders, local authorities and community members to collaborate in protecting green spaces, encouraging tree planting and promoting sustainable lifestyles to safeguard the region’s environmental heritage for generations to come.
President Mahama noted that the Ho Oxygen City Project is intended to serve as a model for future urban development, with a strong focus on clean air, orderly expansion and improved living conditions, while also generating jobs and economic opportunities, particularly for the youth.
The sod-cutting event brought together traditional rulers, government officials and residents, many of whom expressed confidence that the project would drive Ho’s transformation and further entrench the Volta Region’s image as a green, sustainable and forward-looking hub.
