Oti referendum unites NDC, NPP

The just-ended referendum in the Volta Region to create the proposed Oti Region seems to have united Ghana’s two main political parties – the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) and the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP).

The usual acrimony, suspicion, accusations and counter accusations and tension between the NDC and the NPP during elections in the Volta Region, which is the stronghold of the NDC, was not experienced in the just-ended referendum.

All known politically affiliated individuals who spoke to DAILY GUIDE indicated that the December 27, 2018, referendum was beyond politics hence the unity.

The Regional Communications Director of the NPP in the Volta Region, Enoch Amegbletor, believes that excesses were not experienced because the two parties believed in the will of the people of the Oti enclave, which should be the preoccupation of all political parties.

According to Kofi Adams, a leading member of the NDC, “the unity led to the 99 per cent YES votes recorded in the referendum.

The final results of the referendum were greeted with great jubilation throughout the Oti enclave, particularly Jasikan where final results were collated. Some residents embarked on a float amidst drumming, dancing and honking of horns to celebrate the victory.

The Minister of Regional Reorganisation and Development, Dan Kweku Botwe, stated that “now that the people have made their choice, the ball is now in the court of the President to initiate the necessary legal processes to actualise the creation of Oti and the other five new regions”.

Kofi Adams, former National Organiser of NDC, asserted that the NDC would give the Oti enclave its full support to ensure that it gets the attention, support and fair share of the national cake.