President Nana Akufo-Addo inaugurated the commission on Thursday morning, which will be chaired by retired Supreme Court Justice, Stephen Allan Brobbey.

[contextly_sidebar id=”Mciu07kHSUV1cBAaGO4ht33diolWZ5Sb”]They are 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.

In line with the Constitution, the Council of State had unanimously informed the President that there was a substantial demand for the creation of new regions, and therefore advised him to appoint a Commission of Enquiry “to inquire into the need, and to make recommendations on all the factors involved in the creation of the new regions.”

The Commission of Enquiry will now begin the process of collating views for the creation of the proposed three new regions.

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

The Commission’s recommendations will subsequently be handed over to the Electoral Commission to organize the referenda on the matter.

50 percent of persons living within the proposed areas will be required to endorse the proposal for new regions, then the process of creating the new regions will begin.

Desire of the people

Speaking during the inauguration, President Akufo-Addo said this endeavor was in response to calls from citizens in these regions for decentralization to spark 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 also reminded that the demand for the creation of new regions is not a partisan issue, as they were made to other political leaders.

Indeed, in 2016, President John Dramani Mahama announced plans by the National Democratic Congress (NDC), government to possibly increase the number of the country’s administrative regions to 15, if given a second term at the December polls.

President Akufo-Addo said, this “clearly demonstrates a meeting of minds of the two major parties for the need of the creation of new administrative regions.”

The issue also came up for discussion when all the former living heads of state called on President Akufo-Addo earlier in 2017.

“The issue was discussed at length, and it was evident that all the past governments had also been seized with the matter over the years… Since I assumed office, many traditional authorities, civil society organisations and responsible citizens have also voiced their support for the creation of new regions,” he said.

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By: Delali Adogla-Bessa/citimfonline.com/Ghana

The post Commission of Enquiry for new regions inaugurated appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

Parliament initially announced plans to resume business on the Tuesday, May 27.

The date was however, postponed to June 3 due to financial challenges.

But a press statement issued by a clerk to Parliament noted that the leadership of Parliament has again postponed its resumption date to June 10.

Below is the full statement issued by Parliament

ALL HON. MEMBERS OF PARLIAMENT

The Rt. Hon Speaker in consultation with the Leadership of Parliament announces for the information of Hon Members that the date for the reconvening of the Second Meeting of the Second Session of the Sixth Parliament of the Fourth Republic has been rescheduled from Tuesday, 3^rd June, 2014 to Tuesday, 10^th June, 2014.

Hon Members, Ministers of State, Administrative Heads of Ministries, Departments and Agencies, the Media and the general public are accordingly entreated to take note of the new date of reconvening of Parliament.

Meanwhile, Chairpersons, Ranking Members and Clerks of Parliamentary Committees with outstanding referrals are, as a matter of urgency, invited to meet with the Rt. Hon Speaker and Leadership of the House on Monday, 2^nd June 2014 at the Sir Charles Emmanuel Quist Conference Room at 10.00 o’clock in the forenoon.

1. COMMITTEE ON CONSTITUTIONAL, LEGAL AND PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS
2. FINANCE COMMITTEE
3. COMMITTEE ON ROADS AND TRANSPORT
4. COMMITTEE ON SUBSIDIARY LEGISLATIONS

DATED THIS 30^TH DAY OF MAY, 2014.

EMMANUEL ANYIMADU

CLERK TO PARLIAMENT

By: Marian Efe Ansah/citifmonline.com/Ghana

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