New Regions: Akufo-Addo directs EC to hold referenda

President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has directed the Electoral Commission (EC) to organise referenda this year for the creation of six new regions.

The president announced this at the weekend at Nalerigu during a durbar of chiefs and people of the Mamprugu Traditional Area as part of his three-day tour of the Northern Region.

He said there were substantial demands for the creation of new regions when he assumed office, and referred same to the Council of State.

The president mentioned the proposed regions as Western North to be carved out of the Western Region; Bono East and Ahafo to be created out of the Brong Ahafo Region; North East and Savannah, as well as the Oti region, be separated from the Northern and the Volta regions, respectively.

“Last Thursday, before I left Accra to begin the northern tour, I wrote a letter to the Electoral Commission (EC) asking them to organise referenda this year according to the recommendation of the Brobbey Commission in the affected areas to determine whether the people really support the creation of the proposed regions”, he said.

He hoped that the EC would be able to organise the referenda as soon as possible so that by December this year, the process of creating the proposed regions would be completed.

The president, however, indicated that before the regions would be created, 50 per cent of eligible voters in the affected areas must turn out to vote, and 80 per cent of the 50 per cent must vote YES.

He said the creation of new regions would improve the quality of governance in the country and would bring governance closer to the people for socio-economic development.

Na Bohagu Mahami Sheriga, the king of the Mamprugu Traditional Area commended the president for his vision to create the North East Region, which, according to him, would improve local governance in the country.

He said the government’s social intervention projects such as Planting for Food & Jobs, One District-One Dam, free Senior High School programme, among others within the first year of its administration, was commendable.

He said the East Mamprusi district had a lot of iron ore deposits that must be explored through the One District-One Factory policy to extract the mineral for revenue.

Na Sheriga appealed to President Akufo-Addo to also embark on infrastructural improvement, especially roads and education projects.

The president also made stops at Bunkpurugu, Yunyoo, Nankpanduri and Nabia where he assured the people of his vision of transforming the country.