“Work is far advanced to upgrade Ho to that status, and we expect the Minister of Local Government to announce this as soon as possible,” he said.

The presidential candidate of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) gave the assurance when he inaugurated a new office building for the Ho Municipal Assembly in the Volta Region during his campaign tour of the area last Tuesday.  

The GH¢10 million structure, which has three floors, houses the offices of all decentralised departments and other government institutions.

Dr Bawumia said Ho had adequate infrastructural facilities and a large population befitting of a metropolitan status to facilitate development.

Ho Municipal Assembly office building. INSET: Dr Bawumia (holding scissors), being assisted by Togbe Ayim Adzokoto II, to inaugurate the office

He maintained that no government had done better in infrastructural development than the NPP, stressing that the achievement was readily evident in the roads, schools, hospitals, court buildings, public libraries, markets, and astro turfs constructed by the government across the country in the past eight years.

Dr Bawumia, therefore, said renewing NPP’s mandate would be the best choice by the electorate to save the country from moving in reverse gear.

Facilities

The Ho municipality has eight tertiary institutions which include the University of Health and Allied Sciences, the Ho Technical University, the E.P. University College, the Ghana Communication Technology University, and a Nurses Training College.

Others are a 500-bed Teaching Hospital, a Municipal Hospital, a Polyclinic, and a privately-owned health facility, among others.

Commitment

The Vice-President said the NPP was committed to equitable national development without any parochial ethnic or religious considerations.

“I am the flag bearer of the NPP, and that tells you the NPP is not an Akan party,” he said.

Dr Bawumia said the NPP was aware of the priority needs of the Ho municipality and the Volta Region at large, adding that no area would be denied its fair share of the national cake. “With your support, I will address your concerns,” he said.

Significance

The Volta Regional Minister, Dr Archibald Yao Letsa, said the inauguration of the new office testified to the government’s commitment to facilitating business in the municipality and the region.

The Ho MCE, Richard Divine Komla Bosson, who is also the NPP Ho Central Constituency parliamentary candidate, appealed to the people to assess him by his performance in the past two years and vote for him to provide the constituency with greater development projects.

Speaking on behalf of Asogli Chiefs, the Paramount Chief of Takla, Togbe Ayim Adzokoto II, commended Dr Bawumia for his unflinching respect for traditional authorities, adding that he had demonstrated humility as a leader who was ready to serve the people.

He said there was vast tourism, agricultural and aviation potential in the municipality, and, therefore, urged the government to help develop the facilities to create job opportunities for the youth.