Ntim monitors referendum in Bono East and Ahafo

A stalwart of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) Stephen Ntim on Thursday December 27 took time off his busy schedule to monitor the historic referendum on the creation of the proposed Ahafo and Bone East Regions from the existing Brong Ahafo Region.

He observed the exercise in Bechem, Tano South district and Duayaw Nkwanta, Tano North together with Hon. Bobie the Brong-Ahafo Regional Minister.

Mr Ntim who hails from the region has been a strong campaigner for calving of the two proposed regions.

Two million voters are expected to cast their vote in today’s historic referendum for the proposed creation of six new regions.

The proposed regions are Savanah, Bono East, Oti, Western North, North East and Ahafo Regions.

The constitution requires that at least 50% of the electorate show up for the election out of which 80% must vote YES to have the region created.

The reorganisation of the regions is a demand by members of the Volta, Oti; Brong Ahafo, Ahafo and Bono East; Northern, Savannah and North East and Western Regions, Western North, mostly aligned by article 5 of the 1992 constitution which imposed strict requirement on the creation of new regions, alteration of boundaries or the merger of two or more regions.

On August 15, 2017, the Council of State advised President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo to appoint a Commission of Enquiry to look into the need to create six regions and make recommendations on all factors involved in the creation of the regions.

The commission, chaired by a retired Justice of the Supreme Court, Justice S. A. Brobbey, was established pursuant to Article 5 of the 1992 Constitution and CI 105 and commenced work on November 21, 2017.

On June 27, 2018, it presented its report to President Akufo-Addo and recommended the creation of six new regions. The commission also recommended to the President that the referendum be limited to the proposed regions.