President Akufo-Addo
President Akufo-Addo has dispelled the notion that proposals for the creation of new regions are for political gains.
He insists “the process is not a political one” and that “I am not seeking advantage for the NPP in the process of creating regions; that’s not what I’m doing.”
Instead, he said “I’m doing it because I think it will improve the governance of our country; it will bring greater coherence to the various areas that are subject to the regions, make governance easier, more direct and therefore enhancing the quality of governance across the country.”
This was when the Chiefs and elders of the Kokomba Traditional area and those from the northern part of the Eastern corridor called on him at the Flagstaff House on Monday to present a petition to him on the need to create a new region to be called ‘North-Eastern region’.
It was after the Member of Parliament (MP) for Saboba, Charles Bintim who was part of the delegation had made comments which suggested that the creation of this particular region would inure to the benefit of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP).
The President explained, “But that is not the motivation; the motivation is to improve the governance of our country”
He however had course to express reservation about the lateness in the submission of the petition.
“I’m somehow surprised that you’ve heard about these events; almost from the first time that I came to this house, I indicated that this is something I wanted to do and also indicated that there are procedures involved”, was how he put it.
He pointed out, “it doesn’t involve just me; there are others who the Constitution of Ghana has fixed responsibility for in the process of creating regions.”
Nana emphasized “I’m surprised that having sat down and watched all that is going, important political figures like Charles Bintim, Lipkalimor and the others who are here, that you had to wait till this day when everything is starting for you to jump on the ship.”
Whatever be the case, the President submitted that they are citizens and must be heard.
He has since indicated his preparedness to forward the petition to the Council of State and await their response on the matter.
