He described utterances from both sides as unfortunate, and asked that they respected each other's views, and "hold fire", not to derail the constitutional process. Osie Tekpor said this at a durbar to climax the 2018 Avatime Amufest (Brown Rice Festival), which was on the theme "Unity and Development of Avatime through Brown Rice, Culture and Ecotourism".

 "Avatime is not happy about the various utterances that have characterised the decision by government to split our beloved Volta Region. The discourse resulting therefrom, has degenerated into sentimental trading of words, which is not good for the peace that the Volta Region has been enjoying.

Let us be decorous and respect the views and takes of everybody. We call on all to hold fire and allow government to use the Constitutional window available to create the new region", he said.

The Paramount Chief who also is the Director of the Ministry of Railways and Development, called on stakeholders to align the process with the constitution, and consider a region wide vote during the referendum.

This year marked the tenth Anniversary of Osie Tekpor's enstoolment, and was heavily attended by traditional leaders from Volta, Ashanti, Akwamu, and the Brong Ahafo Regions.

The Paramount Chief invited investors to look into the tourist potentials of the near temperate climate of the area, and appealed to stakeholders to address it's network connectivity challenges.

He mentioned other challenges such as bad roads, lack of potable water, and prayed that they were addressed soon. Osie Tekpor also touched on falling academic standards in the area, increase in teenage pregnancies, and unemployment, and called for support to reverse the trends.

A fundraising was held targeting GHC 400, 000 for a water expansion project for the township, whiles the Paramount Chief unveiled plans for the construction of a single storey boys’ dormitory block for the Avatime Senior High school.

Mr Emmanuel Kwasi Bedzrah, Member of Parliament (MP) for Ho West called on government to listen to the collective voice of the people, saying, Volta was not against the split.

Mr Ernest Akpalu, Ho West District Chief Executive (DCE) said the creation of Oti was not a "political project", but purely for development purposes, and that the fear mongering was unnecessary.He rallied the people to take advantage of government's agricultural policies to develop rice farming, and provide raw materials for industry.

The MP and the DCE both donated 100 and 40 bags of cement respectively towards the dormitory project.