Creation of Oti Region not land grabbing – Akufo-Addo

President Nana Akufo-Addo has rejected suggestions that the call for the creation of the new Oti Region out of the Volta Region is a land grabbing move.

At a town hall meeting of Ghanaians resident in Washington DC, as part of his trip to the United States of America for the 73rd Session of the United Nations General Assembly, a concerned Voltarian was of the view that the advocates of the new region are non Voltarians who want to snatch lands from the Ewes in the Volta Region.

“Majority of us in the Volta Region think it is a land grab,” the concerned Voltarian noted, adding even though the advocates are Ghanaians “they are grabbing it (the lands) from the Ewes”.

According to the concerned Voltarian, the “Oti people are Akan and they do not want any Ewes next to them”.

Mr Akufo-Addo quickly rejected the suggestion and indicated that: “It is not a land grab”.

Mr Akufo-Addo added that the matter will be determined through a referendum as there have been strong calls and petitions to that effect.

A commission of enquiry recommended the creation of six new regions after reviewing the petitions. Several consultations were held with stakeholders across the country on the matter.

The Electoral Commission (EC) has been tasked to organise the referendum in December to determine the creation of the regions.