According to written history of the Volta Region, the majority of the territory north of Ho, with the exception of the south, was part of the German colony of Togoland. The Gold Coast, presently Ghana, was managed as part of the Gold Coast, which was originally colonized by the Danes and later handed to the British.
The German colony of Togoland was partitioned after the German loss in World War I. A chunk of the country was placed under British administration and became known as British Togo. Under French protectorate, the other became French Togo, which is now the Republic of Togo.
Togo, which was a British protectorate, and Togo, which was a French protectorate, were both governed by the Trusteeship Council of the League of Nations, which is now the United Nations.
While Togoland was administered by a Governor appointed by the French, the British protectorate of Togoland, later known as the Trans-Volta Togo (TVT) and then the Volta Region (VR), was administered by the Governor of the Gold Coast, who reported on the British protectorate directly to the League of Nations Trusteeship Council, now the United Nations (U.N). In 1954, the United Nations dispatched a Visiting Team to British Togoland. This group advocated holding a plebiscite in 1956 to determine the people’s opinions on whether the Trust Territory should be absorbed into the Gold Coast or breakaway from it.
The Ewe people, who make up 92.3 percent of the population in the Volta Region (Togoland / British Togoland), are the region’s native and largest ethnic group. They are divided into various subgroups. The Ga-Dangme people, who make up 4.0 percent of the population, are another ethnic group. The Gurma people of northern Burkina Faso make up the third largest ethnic group, accounting for 3.1 percent of the population. The Mole people of Burkina Faso, the Dagomba people of Burkina Faso, the Grusi people of Burkina Faso, and the Mande speaking Bissa people of Burkina Faso are also present, accounting for 1.1 percent of the population.
Volta Region Administration
A Regional Coordinating Council (RCC) and a District Assembly govern the Volta area. The RCC is made up of the Volta Regional Minister, who is the political head of the region, and his deputy, as well as representatives from the Volta Regional House of Chiefs, the Volta region’s District Chief Executives, the Presiding Members of the 12 District Assemblies, and representatives from the Volta region’s various decentralized Ministries, Departments, and Agencies. A District Assembly governs each district.
Prior to the regional delineation in December 2018, the region had 25 MMDAs (comprising 0 Metropolitan, 5 Municipal, and 20 Ordinary Assemblies) with all administrative changes in place as of December 2012. Following the census, the Oti Region was formed, reducing the region’s size and number of administrative districts to 18.
The region’s political administration is handled by the local government system. The region is organized into 18 MMDAs under this management arrangement (made up of 0 Metropolitan, 6 Municipal and 12 Ordinary Assemblies). Each District, Municipal, or Metropolitan Assembly is led by a Chief Executive who represents the central government but is accountable to the Assembly, which is led by a presiding member elected by the members themselves.
Districts of the Volta Region
The current list is as follows:
Volta Region Twowns
A
- Abor, Ghana
- Abutia Kpota
- Abutia-Teti
- Adafienu
- Adaklu
- Adaklu Waya
- Adidome
- Aflao
- Agbozume
- Agortime-Kpetoe
- Akatsi
- Akome
- Akpafu
- Akrofu
- Alakple
- Alavanyo
- Amedzofe, Ghana
- Anfoega
- Anlo Afiadenyigba
- Anloga
- Anyako
- Anyanui
- Asukawkaw
- Atiavi
- Atimpoko
- Ave-Dakpa
- Aveyime-Battor
B
- Baglo
- Bame, Ghana
- Brewaniase
D
- Dabala
- Dafor, Ghana
- Denu
- Dzelukope
- Dzodze
- Dzolokpuita
G
- Gbefi
- Gbledi-Agbogame
H
- Hatsukope
- Have, Ghana
- Hedzranawo
- Hlefi
- Ho, Ghana
- Hohoe
J
- Juapong
K
- Keta
- Klefe
- Klikor
- Kpale Kpalime
- Kpalime Duga
- Kpando
- Kpedze
- Kpeme
- Kpetoe
- Kpeve
- Kpeve New Town
L
- Leklebi
- Logba Adzekoe
- Lolobi
M
- Mafi-Kumasi
- Mepe
N
- Nkonya
- Nogokpo
P
- Peki
- Podoe
S
- Seva, Ghana
- Shia, Ghana
- Sogakope
- Sokpoe
T
- Tadzewu
- Tanyigbe
- Taviefe
- Tegbi
- To Kpalime
- Tokor
- Tongor Kaira
- Tsito
V
- Vakpo
- Vane, Avatime
- Ve Golokwati
- Ve-Koloenu
- Vume
W
- Wegbe Kpalime
- Weta, Ghana
- Woe, Ghana