Mahama Unveils Keta Port Shortlist and GH¢250m Blekusu Investment at Hogbetsotso Durbar

President John Mahama used the occasion of the Hogbetsotso durbar in Anloga to outline a sweeping package of infrastructure and industrial commitments for the Volta Region, revealing that seven companies have been shortlisted to develop the long-awaited Keta Port, while pledging GH¢250 million for the Blekusu Phase Two project and detailing plans for a Weta garment manufacturing enclave.

What was announced

The Hogbetsotso festival — the annual homecoming celebration of the Anlo people of the Volta Region — provided the backdrop for President Mahama's wide-ranging development address. At its centre was the confirmation that the Keta Port project, which has for decades remained more promise than reality, has now advanced to a formal shortlisting stage, with seven firms identified as potential developers.

The President also spoke to the Weta hub, describing plans for a garment and textile enclave in the area that would position Weta as a manufacturing destination. Such an enclave, if realised, could attract investment into value-added production and create employment in a region that has historically lagged behind in industrial development.

Complementing these announcements was the GH¢250 million commitment towards Blekusu Phase Two — a coastal infrastructure and development initiative in the Keta area. The Blekusu project has previously been linked to efforts to address coastal erosion and develop economic infrastructure along the Volta Region's shoreline.

Why it matters for Ghana

The Volta Region, and the Keta enclave in particular, sits at the heart of Ghana's coastal south-east, sharing a border with Togo. The area has long been identified as strategically significant for trade, fishing, and regional connectivity, yet infrastructure development has repeatedly stalled over successive administrations.

A functioning Keta Port would represent a transformative shift for the region. It would reduce the dependence of the eastern corridor on the Tema Port, potentially decongesting one of West Africa's busiest ports while opening up new trade routes with Togo, Benin and beyond. For the Anlo community and the broader Volta Region, the port has symbolic as well as economic importance — it has been a central demand of local leaders and residents for generations.

The Weta garment enclave fits into a wider national conversation about industrialisation and local job creation. Ghana has previously experimented with industrial enclaves and special economic zones with mixed results, meaning the execution and private sector engagement will be critical to whether Weta becomes a genuine manufacturing hub or remains on the drawing board.

• Coastal erosion has been a serious and ongoing threat to communities in the Keta area, making infrastructure investment and coastal protection inseparable concerns for the region.
• Unemployment in the Volta Region remains a persistent challenge, and announcements of this scale — if followed through — could significantly alter the economic landscape for young people in the area.
• Political context is also worth noting: the Volta Region is traditionally considered a stronghold for the National Democratic Congress, and high-profile investment pledges at a major cultural event will inevitably be read through both a development and a political lens.

What comes next

The shortlisting of seven firms for the Keta Port signals that the project has moved beyond the feasibility and proposal stages, though formal procurement processes, financing arrangements and construction timelines have yet to be publicly confirmed. Observers and civil society groups in the region will be watching closely to see whether the momentum generated at Hogbetsotso translates into signed agreements and groundbreaking ceremonies in the months ahead.

For now, President Mahama's announcements have injected fresh energy into development conversations in the Volta Region — and raised expectations that will need to be carefully managed.