Mr Isaka Buraima, Chairman of the Coalition, said the demand had been necessitated by the lack of "proportionate development", and belongingness that threatened their existence as part of the Volta Region, and those factions against the proposal must consider their plight.

"May I on behalf of the Coalition for Peace and Development of Buem, crave the indulgence of all the chiefs and elders of the entire Volta Region to share in our vision and see this not as a revolt but a quest for development," he said.

Mr Buraima was addressing the 14th Congress of the Coalition at Akaa in the Jasikan District of the Volta region on the theme, "The Creation of Oti Region, the Benefits to Buem".  He commended chiefs from the Oti enclave for their composure to reactions from opponents of the new region.

Mr Buraima said an atmosphere of peace and harmony was crucial both among themselves and with the rest of the Volta Region towards the realisation of the full benefits of creating the new region.

"There is a social bond between those of us in the Oti Region and the rest of the people of the Volta Region who are not in support of our vision for the creation of Oti Region."These bonds go beyond strategic partnerships and friendships that we have built for ourselves over a very long time, but also include intermarriages amongst us. These bonds should be maintained, retained and protected for peace to prevail before, during and after the referendum," he said.

The Chairman called on chiefs to take advantage of Government's development agenda, and avail land for the various projects to create jobs for the people. He also made an appeal to the chiefs to consider the Coalition's proposal to change the Congress into a Buem festival.

Nana Opraw Akwamoah VIII, Ninfahene of Buem, said the Buem State, considering the benefits of the creation of a separate region, had been involved in the campaign for several decades, and were hopeful of the fortunes of the enclave.

He also asked people in the Oti enclave to heed President Akufo Addo's call for restraint, saying the demand was a constitutional right, and urged the people to continue to pursue the agenda in a peaceful manner.

"We of the Oti enclave can't be perturbed nor derailed in our cause. We are for peace and we urge our brothers and sisters who come from the south but live amongst us to be on our side to deliver Oti Region for our collective good. All of us will be winners, no losers, and both Oti and the rest of Volta will see tremendous development," Nana Opraw stated.

Mr Maxwell Blagodzi, Deputy Volta Regional Minister, said growing scepticism towards the creation of the proposed region must be stopped because the intention was positive.   He said government had begun funding stalled road projects across the country, and that work would soon commence on the Hohoe to Jasikan stretch of the Eastern Corridor Highway.