Ho, Jan. 24, GNA - Togbe Afede XIV, President of the Volta Regional House of Chiefs, has challenged the Chinese Government to explore investment opportunities in the Region, describing the Volta Basin as a "treasure-trove of various important minerals".

He said the Volta Region could boast of natural resources such as gold, diamonds, copper, lead, iron ore and oil.

The Volta Basin, which lies mainly in Ghana (42%) and Burkina Faso (43%) with minor parts in Togo, Cote d=B4Ivoire, Mali and Benin, has the volta lake, the largest man-made in the world, as its dominating feature.

Togbe Afede XIV said this at a durbar organized by the Volta Regional House of Chiefs in collaboration with the Volta Region Development Agency (VODA) in honour of Mr Gong Jianzhong, the Chinese Ambassador to Ghana.

He said the Region also had fertile agricultural lands, enormous potentials for large-scale fish farming, large deposits of clay for brick and ceramics production, extensive salt deposits along the coast, and the largest variety of tourist attractions.

Togbe Afede XIV noted that in spite of all these, the Region was not developed and called on the Chinese Government to take advantage of the "favourable investment environment, the promising natural resource sector and improved infrastructural network to invest in the Region.

"We admit your Excellency, that we are, proverbially thirsty, while standing in the middle of the river," he said.

Mr Joseph Amenowode, Volta Regional Minister, in a speech read on his behalf, indicated that the Volta Region had iron ore deposits in the Jasikan District and the Volta Basin, clay deposits in the Kpando District, Keta Municipality, South Tongu and Akatsi Districts.

He said crude and salt deposits could also be found in the Keta Municipal Area.

Mr Amenowode also described the Region as the tourism hub of the country located strategically within four international markets including Togo, Benin and Nigeria with all the ingredients for investment and successful enterprise.