Akufo-Addo to give effect to 6 new regions Tuesday

President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo will on February 12 issue a constitutional instrument to give effect to the six new regions.

An overwhelming ‘Yes’ vote on December 27, 2018, saw the creation of Ahafo, Bono East, North East, Oti, Savannah, and Western North Regions.

The President is required by Article 5(8) of the 1992 Constitution to issue a CI giving effect or enabling effect to the results of the referendum for the creation of new regions.

In line with this, Minister of Regional Reorganisation and Development, Mr Dan Botwe, has announced a ceremony has been scheduled at the Jubilee House for Nana Akufo-Addo to issue the CI which will also name the regional capitals for the six regions.

“On the 12 of February 2019, we will all meet at the Jubilee House for Mr. President to perform the final act of giving effect to the results of the referendum,” he told Overlord of Mamprugu, the Nayiri, Naa Bohagu Mahami Abdulai Sheriga, during a courtesy call.

The regional capitals, he noted, have been decided on by the president through a wider consultation and would be announced on the inauguration day.

“President Nana Addo has also done a lot of consultation with chiefs and stakeholders on the siting of capitals,” Mr. Botwe added.

The minister reiterated that development in the newly created regions will be spread out across towns in the new regions.



Background

Citing under-development and inequalities, opinion and traditional leaders in the new six regions petitioned President Nana Akufo-Addo to initiate processes for them to be given regional independence.

Consequent to the petition, the President constituted a Commission of Inquiry to collate views on the proposal after which the Commission recommended to the government to proceed with the creation of the new regions.

The EC was then given the go ahead to hold the referendum for the people in the six new regions to decide whether the regions should be created.

Despite the expression of misgivings about the creation of the new regions and legal action, the road was cleared for the EC to conduct the referendum on December 27.