The Nana Akufo-Addo government is likely to create at least three new regions out of some existing ones.<\/p>\n
This will be the major agenda for the newly created Ministry for Regional Reorganisation and Development.<\/p>\n
While introducing his appointee to fill the ministry, Akufo-Addo said although the constitution allows for the creation of new regions, the processes are stringent and cumbersome.<\/p>\n
\u201cthe process of devolution of power will require that we look again at the regional structures of our country all with the aim of trying to promote rapid development of Ghana\u2026But the constitutional requirements for being able to create a region are very stringent and not easy.\u201d<\/p>\n
He noted that the process includes a referendum that requires at least 80 percent of residents in the affected region to approve of the split.<\/p>\n
\u201c…That is the certification that the Electoral Commission has to make and when the 50 perform come out to vote, 80 percent of them must approve the demand for the creation of the region. We are now talking about a major exercise of political mobilization to be able to create a region\u2026\u201d Akufo-Addo said.<\/p>\n
He noted that the regions that were to see the split include the Northern Region, Western Region, Volta Region and the Brong-Ahafo Region.<\/p>\n
While on the campaign trail ahead of the 2016 general elections, Nana Addo promised to split the Western Region to have a Western North region if given the nod to promote development in the Northern part of the region which has been greatly underserved.<\/p>\n
\u201cthe four regions that we have chosen are those that we want to reshape and create new regions out of them. We\u2019re talking about the Western North region which I committed myself to and the manifesto also committed itself to, the creation of the Ahafo region out of the Brong-Ahafo, another express commitment on my part and backed by the manifesto, the northern region.”<\/p>\n
“Even on the thank you tour, that I took there a couple of weeks ago, there was an express demand that there should be a region created out of the eastern corridor by the Chiefs and people there, and then the Volta region where there has been a long-standing demand for the creation of the Oti region,\u201d Akufo-Addo explained.<\/p>\n
It is unclear when the new regions will finally be created, however, President Akufo-Addo has said the processes to have them will start immediately.<\/p>\n
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By: Jonas Nyabor\/citifmonline.com\/Ghana
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