The region presented two petitions to the commission for the creation of the Bono East Region and Ahafo Region, out of the current Brong Ahafo Region.

The Ahafo Council of Chiefs is championing the creation of the Ahafo Region, whilst their counterparts, the Coalition of Bono East Chiefs, are rooting for the Bono East Region.

The engagement, according to the Commission, is to equip media practitioners in the region with the requisite knowledge and information as educators and actors of information sharing and dissemination to the masses, to enable the Commission to successfully execute and implement their mandate.

The programme brought together media Practitioners from print and electronic, Municipal/District Directors of the Information Services Department (MDIOs), Commentators of ISD and staff of the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE) across the region.

Addressing the programme, Minister for Regional Re-organization and Development, Daniel Kweku Botwe, assured of government’s resolve to be guided by the provisions of the 1992 constitution, and will therefore not interfere with the process and the work of the Commission.

“They applied for it, and they have to spend their own money to educate their people and galvanize support for the referendum. All they need is 50% turnout to vote, and 80% YES from the voters. Government is not going to spend one pesewa in printing a poster or anything”, he emphasized.

He however explained that, government was fully prepared to provide the necessary logistics and assistance to the Electoral Commission  to advertise the issues and voter education purposes, and warned government officials to desist from actively participating and campaigning to community members.

The Minister tasked staff of ISD and NCCE to put their vast knowledge and skills in community sensitization at the disposal of the Commission for a successful implementation of their mandate.

The Brong Ahafo Regional Minister, Kwaku Asomah-Cheremeh in his welcome address, tasked petitioners of the proposed two regions to demonstrate their commitment and willingness to have their regions by turning out massively to vote in favour when the date of the referendum is set.

He observed that the bottom line was progress and development of the area, and therefore appealed to the media practitioners to preach the positives that the creation of additional regions will bring to the communities.

Participants at an open forum asked varied questions ranging from cost, commitment of government, legal processes governing the creation of the regions, and challenges confronting the exercise among others.

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By: Mashoud Kombat/citifmonline.com

The post Commission on creation of new regions engages B/A media appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

The public hearing from 6^th to 12^th February 2018, will only be to discuss the petition for the creation of a new region in the Bono East area. The petition for the creation of a new region in the Ahafo area will be discussed at the public hearings from 13th to 17th February 2018.

Persons who wish to appear before the Commission may do so at the venues and times indicated above.

[contextly_sidebar id=”7p4aGmfPaRgBGjGi74A4QddoHQeUgiXf”]The Akufo-Addo administration advanced plans to create three new regions with the inauguration of a nine-member Commission of Enquiry in 2017, to collate views that will lead to carving out new regions from existing ones.

President Nana Akufo-Addo inaugurated the commission which is chaired by retired Supreme Court Justice, Stephen Allan Brobbey.

The Commission is expected to conduct consultative sessions leading to referenda for the creation of the regions.

The attempts to create new regions are in fulfillment of the New Patriotic Party’s campaign promise to carve new regions out of the Brong Ahafo, Western, Northern and Volta Regions.

The minister-nominee for Regional reorganization Dan Botwe, has said the creation of new regions will enhance economic opportunities as well as promote effective governance.

According to him, the creation of new regions by the New Patriotic Party government is not for political advantage, but it is to help ensure even distribution of development across the country.

But there appears to be mixed feelings from inhabitants of the Volta Region on the proposed creation of a new region out of the Volta Region, after the Commission overseeing the processes began its public hearings in Ho.

The Paramount Chief of Gbi Traditional State in the Hohoe Municipality of the Volta Region, Togbega Gabusu VI, has asked that the creation of a new region out of the existing Volta Region, should not affect the current boundaries of the Hohoe Municipality.

The Hohoe Municipality consists of nine traditional areas with Togbega Gabusu VI presiding over the Gbi State. There are indications that four of the traditional areas including Lolobi, Santro Kofi, Likpe and Akpafu, who are mostly Guans, wish to join the proposed new region.

Togbega Gabusu advised that attempts to take any of the traditional areas from the jurisdiction might not inure to the benefit and the development of the Hohoe Municipality.

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By: Farida Yusif/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post Commission on new regions to hold public hearings in B/A appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

Public hearings regarding the possible creation of a new region out of existing Volta Region have been slated to take place between January 16 and 20.

But the individuals say the venues have been skewed to favour only people living in the northern part of the Volta Region.

[contextly_sidebar id=”VdZAPNHOLGOGYmE4awf6fJCCdIYJE9Ob”]Lawyer for the aggrieved persons, Albert Quashigah, in a letter to the Commission, gave a 2-day ultimatum for the issue to be resolved.

“A publication in the Daily Graphic on January 8, 2018 said that the commission of Inquiry was going to hold public hearings in the Volta Region from the 16^th to 20^th January 2018 and about five venues have been selected,” he told Citi News.

He explained that his clients were alarmed because all the five venues where the public hearings are expected to take place  “are basically concentrated in the northern part of the Volta Region.”

He argued that such action is unfair because the creation of the new region from the Volta Region will affect the entire region and not just a section of it.

“The eventual creation of the region will affect the entire region. So if you want to do a public hearing on a matter as sensitive as this you don’t create the impression that only those in the north will matter,” he said

Quashigah said his clients, in a letter, have given the commission a two-day ultimatum to have the issue addressed or they will ‘advise themselves.’

“Now we have given the commission two days to get back to us on our concern otherwise my client will advise himself. The two days is so that we don’t have the luxury of time on our side and expect the commission to get back to us. If by Monday we don’t get any indication that we will hear from the commission, my client will advise himself on the matter,” he added.

The five venues for the event include the Dr. Afeti Auditorium, the Ho Technical University, the Kete-Krachi Senior High School, the Nkwanta South Municipal Assembly Hall and the Nsuta Catholic Formation Center at Jasikan.

Gov’t not sponsoring petitions for new region

This is the latest in a number of issues to have come up in the process as the Minister of Regional Reorganization and Development, Dan Botwe, was forced to debunk claims that the government is sponsoring interest groups pushing for the creation of a new region out of the Volta Region.

The current government’s moves to respond to persistent appeals from people in the northern part of the Volta Region to have a new region carved from the existing one was met with a lot of criticism, mostly from the southern dwellers who claimed the move was being done for political expediency.

However speaking at a sensitization workshop for journalists, Civic Educators and Information Service Workers in the region, the Minister said, the government has no particular interest in the creation of the new region.

About Justice Brobbey’s Commission of Inquiry

The Commission was tasked by the President to produce a report on its work, and present recommendations which will subsequently be handed over to the Electoral Commission.

The Commission, upon assumption of office, toured the Volta, Western, Northern and the Brong Ahafo Regions, to solicit the views of residents on the creation of the new regions.

A retired Justice of the Supreme Court, Justice Brobbey, led the committee of 8 other members to undertake the consultation process.

It has over the past few days also engaged chiefs and opinion leaders from the Western, Volta Northern and the Brong Ahafo Regions.

The Electoral Commission is expected to organize a referendum for the creation of the new regions following final recommendations from the commission.

If 50% of persons living within the proposed areas endorse the proposal, the process of creating the new regions will then be implemented.

The creation of new regions was one of President Nana Addo’s several campaign promises in the run-up to the election in 2016.

Government is seeking to split the Northern, Western, Volta and the Brong-Ahafo Regions. However, some analysts have said the move is merely for political advantage.

But the Minister for Regional Reorganization, Dan Botwe, has dispelled such claims, saying it would instead enhance the economic opportunities as well as promote effective governance in such areas.

Once the in-camera hearing of petitions has ended, the Commission will move into the regions to hold public hearings. That process is expected to begin this month from the Western Region.

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By: Godwin Akweiteh Allotey/citifmonline.com/Ghana
Follow @AlloteyGodwin

The post V/R: Group unhappy over venues for regional split hearings appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

The Chairman of the nine-member Commission, Justice Alan Steven Brobbey, made this revelation today [Tuesday], when he was addressing petitioners, saying “Today, the commission brings this consultation to an end. This hearing has been organized for those who have already petitioned the President for creation of regions.”

[contextly_sidebar id=”ASxnlPgmGx8M54cZqPsDbrR06NWa6wu8″]The Commission was tasked by the President to produce a report on its work, and present recommendations which will subsequently be handed over to the Electoral Commission.

The Commission, upon assumption of office, therefore toured the Volta, Western, Northern and the Brong Ahafo Regions, to solicit the views of residents on the creation of the new regions.

A retired Justice of the Supreme Court, Justice Brobbey, led the committee of 8 members to undertake the consultation process.

It has over the past few days also engaged chiefs and opinion leaders from the Western, Volta Northern and the Brong Ahafo Regions.

The Commission’s recommendations will subsequently be handed over to the Electoral Commission to organize a referendum within the various regions out of which the new ones are to be carved out.

If 50% of persons living within the proposed areas endorse the proposal, the process of creating the new regions will then be implemented.

The creation of new regions was one of President Nana Addo’s several campaign promises in the run up to the election in 2016.

Government is seeking to split the Northern, Western, Volta and the Brong-Ahafo Regions. However, some analysts have said the move is merely for political advantage.

But the Minister for Regional Reorganization, Dan Botwe, has dispelled such claims, saying it would instead enhance the economic opportunities as well as promote effective governance in such areas.

Once this in-camera hearing  of petitions ends, the Commission will move into the regions to hold public hearings. That process is expected to begin this month from the Western Region.

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By: Marian Ansah/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post In-camera hearing by Commission of inquiry on new regions ends appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

The Yunyoo district is to be carved out of the existing Bunkprugu/Yunyoo district in line with government’s intention to create additional districts nationwide.

[contextly_sidebar id=”5zVPqoZ4hZBA8xwYbPpQnCGT6d3rBxPn”]Even before the Electoral Commission commenced its work, there were reported gunshots in the Yunyoo constituency over the location of the district capital.

Whilst some residents there are proposing Yunyoo, others want Namong, one of the densely populated Konkomba communities as the capital.

It is against this backdrop that the Konkomba chiefs in Yunyoo in collaboration with the Konkomba Students Union (KONSU), at a news conference said their demand was nonnegotiable.

They also accused the Electoral Commission of failing to do due diligence in determining the status of Yunyoo as a district or not.

 Below is their statement

27^th November, 2017.

PRESS STATEMENT BY KONKOMBA CHIEFS IN YUNYOO CONSTITUENCY, KONKOMBA STUDENT UNION (KONSU), KONKOMBA DEVELOMENT ASSOCIATION (KODA) AND KONKOMBA YOUTH ASSOCIATION (KOYA) ON THE STANCE OF KONKOMBAS ON THE DISTRICT CREATION IN YUNYOO CONSTITUENCY.                                                                                                                      

    Our statements:

Press men and women, you’re welcome to this Press briefing on the stance of Konkombas regarding the yet to be created district in the Yunyoo Constituency. First of all, the press, ladies and gentlemen, we, the groups mentioned above want to undoubtedly and unequivocally condemn the 16^TH November, 2017 sporadic gunshots in Yunyoo community. We, for this reason wish to apprise the press and the general public that the content of the gunshots heard on the dawn of 16^th November, 2017 is not known to us and that whoever had this intention and went there to exchange this sporadic shooting must put a stop to it and help the people of Yunyoo constituency especially Konkombas maintain the undisrupted peace that had prevailed in the constituency before this unwarranted incident occurred.  Ladies and gentlemen and the press, we want to reiterate the point that Konkombas would be grateful if the existing peace between us and Mamprusis is maintained to its peak.

Having said this, ladies and gentlemen, however, we deem it very fit to still maintain our stance and as well declare it here in this conference that our instantaneous and continuous cry to central government to site the capital of the yet to be created district in a Konkomba community is still our position as a group and this is purely for development purposes. The press, ladies and gentlemen, we think that 69 out of the 80 communities making up the constituency if awarded the district capital would help foster the needed development and boost the economic activities in the area.

Fellow Ghanaians, the press, we wish to accentuate the physical location and economic viability of Konkomba communities in Yunyoo constituency. From the East of the constituency centre which is populated with Konkombas is Jimbale Konkomba market, in the West is Gbintiri Konkomba market, in the South are Tuna and Kulgona Konkomba markets and in the North is Nansuan Konkomba market. If anyone thinks these facts are not true, then let’s hear them.

Ladies and gentlemen and the press, the Eastern Corridor high way fortunately passes through this centre of the constituency from Yendi through Gbintiri to Namong through Nasuan to Bawku.

We wish to state vividly with explicitness that about 90% of the Language spoken in the Yunyoo constituency is associated with the 69 communities which has a voter population of 17,147 out of the total voter population of 22, 314 in the constituency representing the 76.84%.

Our findings

The press, we wish to assert without doubt that the team constituted by the Electoral Commission to work on the district creation and whose work should have started on the 27^th October and ended on the 10^th November 2017 never came to Yunyoo constituency. Thus, any work done by this team is of no interest to the people, especially the majority in the Yunyoo constituency as of now until the proper thing is done as mandated by the commission.

Our appeal

We see the happenings in Yunyoo constituency as worrying and we feel disgruntled, so are crying and calling on the president of the Republic of Ghana, H. E. Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo -Addo to, through the Electoral Commission order, if not advise the team to do as the Commission stipulated in the communiqué issued on the criteria to have been used in selecting a district and district capital.

Our conclusive stance

Whether the Language spoken in the area, the economic viability in the area, which could be the market or markets in the area, the voter population and the actual population in the area, a secure security communities, accessibility of the area, land for development, prevailing infrastructural facilities available or the strength to make and unmake any government at a particular time in an election, the 76.84% deserve the district capital in the Yunyoo constituency.

The district, however, could still be named Yunyoo district Assembly but the capital, respectfully, should be sited in …………………………………………………………………………………

Thank you for coming.

To the Northern Regional minister.

Chiefs’ Spokesperson

Name: Chief

Tele. 0205138626

Chiefs’ Secretary

Name: Chief Tahiru Damani.

Tele. 0245122693, 0265691760

KODA Representative

Name:

Tele.

KOYA Representative

Name:

Tele.

KONSU Representative

Name: Emmanuel Gulari (President)

Tele…0245241554, 0200660658

Cc

PRESIDENT, H .E NANA ADDO DANKWA AKUFU-ADDO

POLICE COMMANDER, BUNKPURUGU-YUNYOO DISTRICT

MINISTER, LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT

REGIONAL CHAIRMAN OF NEW PATRIOTIC PARTY, NORTHERN REGION

DISTRICT CHIEF EXCECUTIVE, BUNKPURUGU-YUNYOO

SPEAKER, PARLIAMENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF GHANA.

CLERK OF PARLIAMENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF GHAANA

ECLECTORAL COMMISSION OF THE REPUBLIC OF GHANA

NORTHERN REGIONAL DIRECTOR, ELECTORAL COMMISSION

DISTRICT DIRECTOR, ELECTORAL COMMISSION, BUNKPURUGU

BEREAU OF NATIONAL INVESTIGATION, BUNKPURUGU

PARAMOUNT CHIEF, MAMPRUGU TRADITIONAL AREA.

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By: Abdul Karim Naatogmah/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post Make Konkomba community capital of Yunyoo district – Chiefs appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

The Commission has, so far, received two different petitions from the region requesting the demarcation.

[contextly_sidebar id=”dnfFeVTqmD95cl4nR1o7NzBuFcKmr50c”]The Chairman of the Commission hearing the cases of petitioners seeking the creation of new regions, Justice Steven Alan Brobbey, said the commission after today’s [Thursday], sitting, will hear the case of another group that is seeking further division of the Brong Ahafo Region on Tuesday.

“We will seek to understand the background to your petition, the issue you raise and any other information you may consider helpful to our work. After today’s hearing, we will continue on Tuesday 28^th November by hearing the petition from petitioners demanding the creation of Brong East Region out of the existing Brong Ahafo Region. That means the Brong Ahafo now may have 3 regions; the current Brong Ahafo Region, Brong East Region and the Ahafo Region if cases are made for their creation,” he said.

He added that “the purpose of the meeting is to afford the Commission the opportunity to hear first-hand from persons who have submitted petitions for the creation of new regions.”

The Omanhene of Yamfo, Nana Ansah Adu Baah II, who is part of the petitioners for the Ahafo Region, told journalists ahead of the meeting with the Commission that the Ahafo part of the Brong Ahafo Region started petitioning the state since 1986, for the creation of the region.

He said he was resolute that partitioning the region will be the surest way to bridge the yawning development gap.

Meanwhile, the Minister for Regional Organization and Development, Dan Botwe, has given assurance that his ministry will not interfere in the work of the Commission, except to provide logistics for its smooth running.

“We only ensure logistical arrangement. We are not part of their discussions, we are not sitting in their meeting because they are going to present their report to the president [at the end of their sittings], he said.

Hearing on the petitions for the creation of a region out of the Northern Region, will be held on November 29 and December 5.

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By: Jonas Nyabor & Caleb Kudah/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post Petitioners want BA divided into 3 regions appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

He will lead the committee with 8 others with various expertise to undertake the consultation process.

The eight (8) are:

1. Dr. Grace Bediako (Former Government Statistician)
2. Maulvi Mohammed Bin-Salih  (AMEER, Missionary in Charge, Ahmadiyya Muslim Mission in Ghana)
3. Prof. Kwasi Kwafo Adarkwa (Former Vice Chancellor, KNUST)
4. Ms. Gladys Gillian Naadu Tetteh  (Local governance expert)
5. Mr. Robert Ajene (Retired Director of Education)
6. Dr. David Wellington Essaw (Senior Research Fellow, University of Cape Coast)
7. Prof. George Owusu (Institute of Statistical, Social & Economic Research /Director, Center for Urban Management Studies, University of Ghana)
8. Ms. Josephine Hughes (Legal Practitioner)

[contextly_sidebar id=”w7iIhF8C9IquY68D95MSDEwE0cilvsH2″]The Commission has been directed by the President to produce a report on its work, and present recommendations which will subsequently be handed over to the Electoral Commission (EC) for the organization of a referendum.

This will be done in the various regions out of which the new ones will be carved out.

The Commission, is expected to tour the Volta, Western, Northern and the Brong Ahafo Regions, to solicit the views of residents on the creation of the new regions.

Speaking at the inauguration of the Commission, President Akufo-Addo said the move was in response to calls from citizens in these regions for decentralization to promote development.

“It has become clear to me that, one of the most fundamental demands of our people is to live in a thriving economy which provides opportunities for all. The desire has found expression in several forms. One such form is for the re-organisation of our regional governance structure to enable government come closer to the people and thereby facilitate the rapid development of our nation and its economy,” he said.

The president also expressed optimism that the process when completed, will spur growth in the affected regions.

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By: Jonas Nyabor/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post Justice Brobbey chairs 9-member commission for new regions appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

”As a result of the Bui Reservoir reaching the minimum operating level, the rate of power generation at Bui Generating Station has been reduced in order to protect the turbines from potential damage,” a statement from the Bui Power Operations said.

According to the Bui Power Authority it is unable to maintain the high rate of power generation and production because of its depleted reservoir.

”The exceedingly high level of generation support that the Bui Generating Station has been providing to the national electricity grid since the commissioning of the Bui plant has caused the Bui reservoir level to fall to the minimum operating level of 168.0 masl,” the statement added.

Speaking to Citi News Assistant External and Communication  Relations Officer of the Bui Power Project, Mawuli Fui Kwadzovia said it is imprudent to operate the generating plant below the minimum operating level of the reservoir.

He said, ”this unduly exposes the turbines to higher risk of damage”.

”BPA is monitoring the reservoir level and will revise the production plan in conjunction with Gridco as soon as necessary,” the statement further noted.

The development  means the current erratic power supply will intensify.

The African Centre for Energy Policy said only a miracle will rescue the Bui Dam from shutting down. “Bui Dam needs a miracle”, Head of Programmes at ACEP, Benjamin Boakye told Accra based Joy FM.

Meanwhile Former Deputy Minister of Energy and MP for Adansi Asokwa, Kobina Tahir Hammond said the current situation is ”scandalous”.

He called on the president to crack the whip and sack those who are responsible for this flaw.

”If anything happened to it [Bui Dam] the country will not forgive the individuals involved,” he said.

By: Evans Effah/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post Erratic power supply to worsen, as Bui reduces production appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.