Mr Richmond Edem Kofi Kpotosu, the Member of Parliament (MP) for Ho Central, has clarified that the Municipal Assembly has not yet been given metropolitan status despite some public pronouncements suggesting otherwise.
He said no Legislative Instrument (L.I.) had been laid before Parliament to formalise the elevation, describing the claims as “optical shows” rather than genuine progress.
Speaking at the Ho Municipal Assembly’s General Assembly Meeting, the MP said the legal framework was the single most important requirement for the upgrade.
“By the grace of God, when we resume for our third session of the Ninth Parliament, the L.I. will be laid for the mandatory 21 days before we can officially say that Ho has been elevated to a metropolitan assembly. Only then can we establish sub-metros,” Mr. Kpotosu stated.
He explained that until the L.I. was passed, any public declaration on the matter remained premature and misleading.
Mr Kpotosu stressed that the push for metropolitan status was crucial for Ho’s growth, particularly in urban infrastructure, and other socio-economic sectors that could benefit from the additional resources and autonomy.
He however expressed frustration that the issue had lingered across four consecutive parliaments without concrete legislative action.
“Everything done so far is just optics. You can have the optical shows and say anything, but reality will always expose you,” he said.
The lawmaker urged stakeholders, including local leaders and government officials, to avoid raising false hopes among residents by making declarations without the necessary parliamentary backing.
He said the elevation to a metropolitan assembly would not only enhance governance but also open the doors to increased development opportunities for the Volta Region’s capital.
He emphasised that such a status would allow the creation of sub-metropolitan structures to improve service delivery and enhance participatory governance.
M. Kpotosu assured the house that he remained committed to pushing for the L.I. when Parliament reconvened and urged residents to exercise patience.
The clarification comes amid growing public interest in seeing Ho achieve metropolitan status, a development many believe will position the city as a stronger hub for commerce, governance, and regional growth.