Juapong: The Volta Regional Coordinating Council (VRCC), partnering with the Association of Ghana Industries (AGI), has inaugurated the Seventh Volta Trade and Investment Fair at the Volta Star Textiles Limited (VSTL) site in Juapong, North Tongu District, with a significant focus on revitalizing the historically significant textile factory.
According to Ghana News Agency, the event also introduced the inaugural 24-Hour Economy Fair in the region under the theme ‘Volta Rising: Building Global Partnerships for a Thriving 24-Hour Economy.’ Mr. James Gunu, Volta Regional Minister, highlighted the symbolic importance of choosing Juapong Textiles as the venue, pointing to its role as a reminder of Ghana’s industrial roots and a catalyst for economic transformation.
Mr. Gunu stated that the Fair aligns with President John Dramani Mahama’s flagship 24-Hour Economy Policy, integral to the 2025 Budget. This policy is backed by an initial investment of US$300 million and aims for a target of US$4 billion over four years. It aims to stimulate industrial growth, create over 1.7 million jobs, and position Ghana as a competitive round-the-clock economy. For the Volta region, this includes the revival of Juapong Textiles under a 24-hour model and the development of a 24-Hour Industrial Park in Adaklu on a secured 1,500-acre land, focusing on manufacturing, logistics, and exports.
He invited development partners, diplomats, and investors to collaborate in this vision, emphasizing that global partnerships are crucial for transforming the region into a hub of continuous productivity and innovation. H.E. Nauzer Idid Syed Yuroff Idid, the Malaysian High Commissioner to Ghana, committed his country’s support, commending the Fair as a bridge between Ghana’s readiness and the global stage. He expressed confidence in the event’s potential to foster new and lasting collaborations between Ghana, Malaysia, and other international partners.
Mr. Fred Avornyo, CEO of the Volta Trade and Investment Fair, described the event as a model of public-private partnership led by the VRCC and AGI. He emphasized that the Fair aims to position Volta as Ghana’s eastern gateway to the West African market of 400 million people, tackling youth unemployment, expanding investment, and creating new revenue streams for the government. The Fair spans sectors from agribusiness to tourism, manufacturing to creative industries, aiming to create sustainable livelihoods and reposition Volta in the national and regional economic discourse.
Madam Victoria Amefadzi Yawa Doe, District Chief Executive of North Tongu, welcomed the initiative, emphasizing North Tongu’s strategic importance. She highlighted the district’s vast agricultural potential, fertile plains, and strategic location as a gateway between Accra, Eastern, and the Volta Region.
The launch also included messages of support from key partners such as the Ghana Export Promotion Authority (GEPA), Ghana Investment Promotion Centre (GIPC), Bank of Ghana, National Petroleum Authority (NPA), Petroleum Commission, and the 24-Hour Economy Secretariat, all pledging full support and signing a symbolic endorsement of the Fair.
The Seventh Volta Trade and Investment Fair is scheduled to take place from November 26 to December 8 in Ho, featuring exhibitions, business-to-business sessions, cultural showcases, investment summits, and tourism promotions. Volta Star Textiles Ltd., once a leading textile producer since 1968, has faced decline due to obsolete machinery. Proposals to modernize the factory could increase its production capacity from 20 million yards annually to 100 million yards, creating at least 1,200 direct jobs and boosting the local economy.