A highly- placed source in the Electoral Commission (EC) has disclosed to the Ghana Palaver that the Commission was not involved in the latest demarcation of districts and creation of Municipal and Metropolitan Assemblies.
He referred to section 1 of the Local Government Act, 1993, Act 462, which states that before creating new districts, the President shall refer to the EC on whose recommendations he then acts. Since the EC did not make any such recommendations, the source wondered which body would have made those recommendations.
According to the source, the first batch of new districts created by President Kufuor was based on recommendations of the EC, and that was why there were not too many problems with them.
For example, in order to create the new municipality of Obuasi, a new Adansi North district had to be created out of the previous Adansi West district in order to trim Obuasi down to a ?Single Compact Settlement?, which is a requirement for the creation of a municipality.
The EC source agreed with Mr. Kwamena Ahwoi, former NDC Minister of Local Government and Rural Development that Ashiaman and Adenta do not constitute one ?single compact settlement? to qualify the two jointly for a municipality.
In an earlier interview with Joy FM, Mr. Ahwoi had explained that a Municipality with a Municipal Assembly in the true sense of the word is a ?one-town Assembly? and therefore the issue of a capital never arises because the town is the municipality is the capital.
According to Mr. Ahwoi, a municipality in Ghanaian local government literature connotes that there is no other territorial jurisdiction outside the municipality itself. ?That is why when it was applied in 1988/89; only four towns qualified and these were Tamale with Tamale as the capital, New Juaben-Koforidua with Koforidua as the capital, Tema with Tema as the capital and Cape Coast with Cape Coast as the capital. That is also the reason why Municipal Assemblies do not have Urban, Town or Area Councils but have only Zonal Councils formed out of the distinct, identifiable neighbourhoods in the towns? Mr. Ahwoi explained.
It will be recalled that the recent creation of new Districts and conferment of municipality status by President Kufuor has caused a huge furore with major confusion raging in Adenta-Ashiaman concerning the alleged siting of the Municipal capital at Adenta and dispute in Weija concerning the name of the new Municipality.
President J.A. Kufuor, by an Executive Instrument (E.I) created 25 new districts, 3 Municipalities and upgraded 26 existing districts to municipalities while Tema and Cape Coast were raised to the status of Metropolitan Assemblies.
The newly created municipalities are Adenta-Ashaiman with Adenta as the capital, Weija with Mallam as the capital, and Ledzekuku-Krowor with Teshie-Nungua as the capital.
The districts that have been upgraded to municipalities include Birim Central with Akyem Oda as the headquarters, Akuapem South with Nsawam as capital, Kwahu West with Nkawkaw as the capital, East Akyem with the capital as Kyebi, Bekwai-capital, Asante Bekwai; Asante Mampong-capital, Mampong, Asante Akyem North-capital, Konongo; Ejisu-Juaben-capital, Ejisu, Offinso capital-Offinso; Berekum-capital, Berekum, Dormaa-capital Dormaa Ahenkro; Wenchi-capital, Wenchi, Asunafo North-capital, Goaso, Kintampo North-capital, Kintampo.
Others are Effutu-capital, Winneba; Mfantseman-capital, Saltpond; Agona-capital, Agona Swedru; Assin North-capital, Assin Fosu; Upper Denkyira East-capital Dunkwa-on-Offin; Komenda-Edina-Eguafo-Abirem-capital, Elmina. The rest are Ga East-capital, Abokobi; Nzema-East-capital Axim, Tarkwa-Nsuaem-capital, Tarkwa; Hohoe-capital, Hohoe; Keta-capital, Keta, and Yendi capital, Yendi.
The new districts are Birim South with Akyem Swedru as the headquarters; Upper Manya-capital, Asesewa; Kwahu East-capital, Abetifi; Shama-capital, Shama; Prestea-Huni Valley-capital, Bogoso; Sefwi Akontombra-capital, Sefwi Akontombra; Gomoa East-capital, Afransi; Awutu Senya-capital, Awutu Breku; Upper Denkyira West-capital, Diaso; Biakoye-capital, Nkonya; Ketu North-capital, Dzodze, and Nkwanta North-capital, Kpasa.
The rest are Offinso North-capital, Akomadan; Atwima-Kwanwoma-capital, Twedie; Kumawu-Afram Plains-capital, Kumawu; Nsuta-Kwaman Beposo-capital, Nsuta; Afigya-Kwabre-capital, Kodie, Bosome Freho-capital, Asiw; Sunyani West-capital, Odumasi; Dormaa East-capital, Wamfie; Nkoranza North-capital, Busunya; Chereponi-capital, Chereponi; Kpandai-capital, Kpandai; Lambussie-capital, Lambussie, and Kassena Nankana West-capital, Paga.tc "WE WERE NOT INVOLVED IN DISTRICT DEMARCATIONS ? EC"
