President John Dramani Mahama has unveiled an ambitious plan to transform the Volta Lake and its surrounding basin into a dynamic industrial and logistics hub under Ghana’s upcoming 24-Hour Economy Policy.
Speaking at a high-level stakeholder forum at the Jubilee House on Wednesday, May 28, Mahama described the “Volta Economic Corridor” as the linchpin of a new industrial Ghana, shifting focus from the Lake’s historic role in hydroelectricity to a broader, multi-sectoral economic engine.
“It’s time we go beyond hydropower and unlock the full economic potential of the Volta system,” Mahama declared, emphasizing that the lake’s strategic location and untapped resources could drive 24-hour productivity and balanced regional development.
Key Highlights of the Plan:
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Reclaiming 2 million hectares of arable lakeside land for large-scale agriculture.
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Reviving the fisheries sector to serve both domestic needs and export markets.
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Building industrial parks along the lake to process food and manufacture essential goods.
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Establishing the lake as a national transport highway, connecting northern production zones with southern markets and ports to slash logistics costs.
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Encouraging factories to move inland, easing pressure on coastal cities and spreading economic growth.
To support this vision, Mahama announced that investments will be made in floating transport infrastructure, lake ports, and long-term public-private partnerships — all coordinated under a new 24-Hour Economy Secretariat, reporting directly to the Presidency.
The Draft Programme Document will be released for public consultation on Tuesday, ahead of the official launch on July 1, 2025 — Ghana’s Republic Day.
“This is a national call to action,” Mahama urged, inviting investors and stakeholders to contribute to shaping what he described as a transformational blueprint for Ghana’s future.
