Three new districts to be created in Brong-Ahafo

The Electoral Commission (EC) would soon come out with recommendations as directed by the President for the creation of three additional districts in the Brong-Ahafo Region, Mr Amadu Sulley, Regional Director of the Commission said on Monday.

Mr Sulley told Ghana News Agency in Sunyani that the EC was also in the process of coming out with recommendations for the elevation of the Sunyani District to a municipal status.

He said this would necessitate the creation of a new rural district out of Sunyani.

A copy of a directive signed by Mr Kwadwo Baah-Wiredu, Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, indicated that Atebubu District would be split into two whilst a new district would be carved out of Tano district.

Mr Sulley said as a result, the Commission would meet chiefs, district chief executives, opinion leaders and assembly members to discuss issues relating to the creation of the new districts.

''The essence of meeting the interested parties in the process of recommendations is to ensure transparency and openness in the whole exercise.''

Mr Anthony Oppong, Sunyani District Electoral Officer, declined to mention the town or area likely to be made the new rural district out of Sunyani "just to avoid anxiety and conflict among interested communities".

He said any town that would be made the new district capital must be accessible to all the towns and villages that fall under it.

Mr Oppong said ''it must also have the necessary infrastructure that can be used for offices and residential accommodation for departments and for officials.''

The region has 13 districts namely Sunyani, Berekum, Dormaa, Jaman, Wenchi, Techiman, Nkoranza, Kintampo, Atebubu, Sene, Tano, Asutifi and Asunafo.