At Mepe 70th Afenorto Festival  Grand Durbar: MP Donates Thousands  Of Furnitures To Pre-Tertiary Schools In Mepe To Address Furniture Shortage 

The Minister of Foreign Affairs and Member of Parliament (MP) for North Tongu Constituency, Hon. Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, has urged the chiefs and people of the Volta Region to ignore malicious claims by critics—including top figures of the New Patriotic Party (NPP)—alleging that President John Dramani Mahama intends to contest more terms than permitted. 

"I wish to use this opportunity to call on the chiefs and people of the region to disregard malicious reports by critics claiming that President John Dramani Mahama wants to extend his presidency beyond his allowed terms," the MP clarified.

He pointed out that the President will ensure the completion of the Sege–Battor–Aveyime–Mepe road network and attend next year's annual Mepe Afenorto Festival before officially handing over power at the end of his second presidential term.

"President Mahama himself made it publicly clear that he is committing to his final legacy. I know that before he hands over, you will see President John Dramani Mahama here in Mepe next year to commission the completed Sege–Battor–Aveyime–Mepe road network project," Hon. Okudzeto Ablakwa stated.

He told the chiefs and people of Mepe to disregard what he described as propaganda regarding a third presidential term for President Dramani Mahama.

The MP stressed that President Mahama he knows is a consummate democrat, adding that the President himself has publicly stated he will not seek a third or fourth presidential term.

According to Hon. Okudzeto Ablakwa, President Mahama, as a law-abiding citizen of Ghana, informed the public that his second term in office would mark the conclusion of his political career and leadership.

Speaking as the guest speaker at the grand durbar of the 70th annual festival on Saturday, August 8, 2026, Hon. Okudzeto-Ablekwa described the National Democratic Congress (NDC) government led by John Dramani Mahama as a doer rather than a mere promiser. 

Hon. Okudzeto Ablakwa, on behalf of President Dramani Mahama, donated a cash sum of GH¢15,000.00 to support the chiefs and people of the Mepe Traditional Area during the historic 70th edition of the Mepe Afenorto Festival.

He noted that the government ensures it delivers on its promises to the people of the Volta Region, which he referred to as the electoral "world bank" of the NDC.

"Together with our North Tongu District Chief Executive, Madam Victoria Amefadzi Yawa Doe, the Volta Regional Minister, Mr James Gunu and my good self, we are handing over a physical cash —not just a pledge—to support the 70th Afenorto Festival of the Mepe Traditional Area. 

"The NDC government delivers; we do not engage in empty rhetoric. Therefore, we are presenting a cash donation of GH¢15,000.00 to Mepe," Hon Okudzeto-Ablakwa stated.

Additionally, the Member of Parliament (MP) and the Volta Regional Minister, on behalf of the National Chairman of the ruling NDC, also donated another cash sum of GH¢10,000.00 to the chiefs and people of Mepe to support the same cause. 

In total, the NDC representatives announced a combined cash support of GH¢26,000.00 for the festival.

Flanked by DCE and the Volta Regional Minister, the MP expressed the government's appreciation to the revered chiefs, queenmothers and Mepe Development Association (MDA) for their leadership and community work. 

He urged them to continue fostering peace and unity for the ongoing development of the area.

During the grand durbar, the MP also presented 30, 000 pieces of furnitures to the chiefs—channeled through the local municipal assembly and executives of MDA—for distribution to pre-tertiary schools. 

This initiative aims to address the severe desk and seating deficits in various schools across the Mepe township.

"No longer should any student sit on the floor or on concrete blocks, complain about a lack of desks, or be forced to share furniture. We do not want to see two or three pupils crammed onto a single desk; instead, we must provide adequate furniture for every school-going child. 

This initiative proves that while I have been working hard abroad as the Foreign Affairs Minister, I have been working equally hard locally. If you do not see me as frequently as you used to, simply look around at my highly visible social and infrastructural intervention projects spread across every community in my constituency.

" Let these visible projects reassure you that even when I am at the United Nations in New York, my work to develop our local social and economic infrastructure continues actively on the ground," Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa stated.

He concluded by thanking His Excellency President John Dramani Mahama, describing him as the kind of leader that every Member of Parliament and Minister is privileged to have in Ghana to successfully implement the "Resetting Ghana" agenda.

The MP revealed that every time he visited President John Dramani Mahama to discuss the social and infrastructure development projects needed for his people, the President always reassured him not to worry. 

He added that the President promised to prioritize engaging with MPs and CEOs to ensure those commitments are delivered to the people of the North Tongu Constituency.

He stated that His Excellency President John Dramani Mahama has been deeply supportive and has never abandoned the people of the North Tongu Constituency. 

According to the Honorable Okudzeto-Ablakwa, President Mahama even praised him as a hardworking Minister and Member of Parliament. 

Describing President Mahama as exceptionally hardworking, Ablakwa noted that he is the only president who never relented in ensuring development in the North Tongu Constituency, which has been transformed under his visible leadership.

 He reiterated that, as far as he is concerned, President Mahama has never abandoned the people of North Tongu regarding the delivery of social and infrastructural development projects.

He noted that his chiefs, queen mothers, and constituents are eternally grateful to President John Dramani Mahama for being a phenomenal, inspirational, and outstanding president, adding that Ghana and North Tongu are deeply blessed to have him. 

He also thanked the Volta Regional Minister for always being present with the chiefs and people, working hard, remaining active on the ground to supervise ongoing projects and programs, and showing deep passion for development, noting that the minister's work in the Volta Region speaks for itself. 

Sege-Battor-Aveyime-Mepe road network project 

The Member of Parliament (MP) outlined how he successfully lobbied for and secured various road, education, health, and market development projects, which are currently ongoing across his constituency under the President John Dramani Mahama-led National Democratic Congress (NDC) government.

He assured the chiefs and people of the Mepe Traditional Area that the ongoing Sege-Aveyime-Battor-Mepe road network project would be completed by 2027."Next year, when we meet to celebrate the 71st annual Mepe Afenorto Festival, the chiefs and people of Mepe will see that the Sege-Aveyime-Battor road is fully completed, and you will be enjoying what will be the first-class asphalted road ever in this area," he described.

He emphasized, "Let me re-emphasize that the ongoing work on the Sege-Aveyime-Battor-Mepe project is not mere surface gravelling; the government through the contractor is constructing a first-class asphalted road, and my people will be proud of the quality of work when it is completed."

He also noted that the Akosombo Dam spillage flood disaster severely impacted the area due to poor drainage systems. 

To address this, the MP explained that the government, through his lobbying efforts, is integrating comprehensive drainage solutions into the road construction. 

This explains the ongoing installation of culverts, bridges, and gutters along the Sege-Battor-Aveyime-Mepe road to mitigate future flooding challenges.

Furthermore, Hon Okudzeto-Ablakwa added that the Sege-Aveyime-Battor-Mepe network is not the only road project underway in the North Tongu District, as the government is also actively constructing the Aveyime-Asisuri-Dorfor-Adidome road, which is nearing completion.

Following a tour of the construction sites, the MP expressed his great satisfaction with the progress and voiced strong confidence that the projects would be completed ahead of their stipulated deadlines.

Funding Secured for Volivo-Dorfor-Adidome Bridge After Renegotiation

He disclosed that another major piece of news is that funding for our long-awaited Volivo-to-Dorfor-Adidome bridge has finally been secured through renegotiation. 

He stated that President Dramani Mahama recently led a delegation, including local chiefs, to Japan to secure this funding for the project's commencement.

"You may remember that funding for the project was secured in 2015, but over the past eight years under the previous New Patriotic Party (NPP) administration, work on the Volivo Bridge construction project was abandoned," he said. 

As a result of cost escalation, the MP pointed out that the current NDC government under President Dramani Mahama had to renegotiate.

He asserted that the negotiation process for the Volivo Bridge construction project under President Mahama has now been successfully completed.

According to Hon. Okudzeto-Ablakwa, the procurement process for the Volivo Bridge construction project was advertised in the Daily Graphic for international competitive bidding. 

He added that work on the project will very soon begin in the North Tongu District, spanning all the way to Dorfor-Adidome.

The MP stated that for those people in the North Tongu District who have not yet seen the design for the bridge project, "Please kindly search for the Dorfor-Adidome bridge design on Google, and you will love it.""If you think the Adomi Bridge is nice, get ready to see a much nicer, more attractive, and beautifully designed Volivo Bridge. 

"You are going to love the look of President John Dramani's government's Volivo Bridge design because it resembles the Yokohama Bay Bridge," the MP disclosed.

He expressed excitement that, during his tenure as the MP for the North Tongu Constituency, the natural challenges regarding the lack of a crossing over the Volta River will be resolved once and for all with the soon-to-be-started Volivo Bridge construction project.

Reaffirming his commitment to his role, he assured his constituents that he would not let them down, promising to actively lobby for more social and infrastructural development projects to benefit the people of North Tongu District.

President John Dramani Mahama has announced that construction of the long-awaited Volivo Bridge is expected to commence before the end of the year, once government completes the procurement process to select a new contractor.Executive Branch

Speaking during his Resetting Ghana Tour of the Volta Region on Thursday, July 16, the President said the Roads and Highways Minister recently led a delegation to Japan to conclude discussions on the project.

According to him, government is now undertaking a fresh procurement process after the original contractor withdrew because of prolonged delays in the execution of the project.

He blamed the setback on years of inactivity, saying the contractor eventually abandoned the project after waiting for work to commence.

He expressed confidence that the procurement process would be completed before the end of the year, paving the way for construction to begin.Civil Engineering

“I know the Volivo Bridge is very dear to your heart. Recently a delegation led by the Roads Minister went to Japan and then concluded on the Volivo Bridge. They are going through the procurement process to choose the contractor who will execute the bridge.

“We have to choose a new contractor because unfortunately over the last eight years, the delay in activating the bridge, the contractor who had been chosen to carry out the works got fed up and pulled out. 

Now we have to go through a new process to select a new contractor. I am assured that before the end of the year that process will finish. 

The contractor will come and we will cut the sod for the start of work.”Construction Consulting & Contracting.