This was meant to ensure even development of both areas and not for any other considerations. He therefore rallied the chiefs and people to accept and support the creation of the new region to bring about rapid socio-economic progress.

"I have come to appeal to you to accept and support the New Oti Region", President Akufo Addo added.     The country, he said, was not new to such exercises, having grown from three regions to the current 10.

He was speaking at a well-attended durbar of chiefs and queens in the southern parts of the region held at Tadzevu in the Ketu North Municipality. President Akufo-Addo was on a three-day working tour of the region to learn at first hand the felt needs of the people.

He was enstooled as a “Development Chief” under the stool name "Togbui Dunenyo" in recognition of his peaceful posture over the years. He spoke of plans to industrialize the Ketu North and South Municipalities and said this would be pursued to fruition.

The government's One District One Factory policy was also taking shape to industrialise the country.  President Akufo-Addo said appeals by chiefs in the area for the upgrading of the Ohawu Agricultural College to a University status, and the creation of a new district out of the Ketu North, would be placed before the appropriate ministries for consideration and action.

He was accompanied by Dr. Archibald Yao Letsa, the Volta Regional Minister, Mr Peter Amewu, Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, and other Ministers of State. He earlier inaugurated a shopping centre at Anloga, and a nurses’ hostel at the Nursing Training School at Keta, after paying a courtesy call on the Awoamefia of Aflao, Togbui Sri III.