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New regions, a bait to development in Ghana

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Thu, 27 Dec 2018 Source: Prince Aboagye Sakyi

Ghana is a peace loving country aside our hospitality, in all spheres God has blessed this nation with both human and natural resources. One of this human resource is the current President of Ghana, H.E Nana Addo Dankwa Akuffo-Addo who I call King Solomon because of his exploits thus far into his two years steering the affairs of Ghana.

Before the 2016 general elections, the two main political parties in Ghana, the New Patriotic Party and the National Democratic Congress promised Ghanaians that they will create new regions.

In God's own infinite wisdom, humble King Solomon- Nana Addo Dankwa Akuffo-Addo got an overwhelming endorsement from the Ghanaian populace after going through the "Dumsor" governance under the erstwhile John Dramani Mahama.

As I am writing this article, the Nana Addo Dankwa Akuffo-Addo led New Patriotic Party though is very young in power, had implemented very crucial and human centered social intervention programs aimed at alleviating poverty, achieving the SDG's and above all making the ordinary Ghanaian feel a sense of belongingness.

Permit me to mention but a few for purposes of time; the giant Free Senior High School, Planting for food and Jobs, One District One Factory etc. This government have worked tirelessly to ensure that the economy is restored back to glory.

As I alluded to in my preliminary, both the New Patriotic Party and the National Democratic Congress both promised to create new Region's should Ghanaians give them the chance.

Fast forward to this day, the NDC, particularly it's Members of Parliament, former Ministers and even National executive's do not see the importance associated with the creation of the new Region's, these people will never change, do you remember, during President J.A Kuffour's regime when he conceived the idea to build the seat of government, the NDC made a lot of noise to the extent that one of them had the guts that should they win they will turn that nice edifice into a poultry farm.

When they won power, immediately they packed documents and bags and off they went and occupied the Jubilee House.

Permit me to go back to the import behind this article because if care is not taking I will use the whole day discussing the double standard NDC we have in this country. The indecisive political party who doesn't even know the principles on which they were formed, a socialist party who kicks against social intervention programs.

To God be the glory, all plans and efforts has yielded results and I will use this medium to thank the sector Minister and his sub committees who have worked day and night for us to get to where we are today.

In some few minutes, people who find themselves in the yet to be created new Region's i.e North East, Savannah, Brong East, Ahafo, Oti and Western North will go to the polls to vote YES for their respective new Region's. I know one will be asking why I did not indicate a NO.

My cherished reader, we don't even need a NO ballot papers if it's not Constitutional. The new Region's will help open up our economy, I was trained as a Development Practitioner, one of the most important thing I learnt during the journey was, development should and must be people centered, it should emanate from DOWN to TOP and not vice versa.

The new Region's will help Ghana develop administratively, socially and economically. These new Region's will give the residents hope that they will get a new Regional Minister whom they can interact on daily basis without traveling long hours, Regional Police Command that will help combat crime in their towns and communities, Regional Directors for all the government agencies, departments and other non and quasi non governmental organizations who will work day-in-day out to ensure that they get what they have been crying for all this while.

When a budget is being made, they will be considered and what do I mean by this, for instance, some years back we had the Suhum Kraboa Coalter District Assembly, the common fund from the government was used to cater for the needs of the people in this district.

When a government decides to give schools in each district any form of disbursement, the numerous schools under the said district will have to share and you can imagine the consequences but today we have the Ayensuano District Assembly, the Assembly today stands to enjoy all the privileges Suhum District Assembly enjoys.

The Assembly now has it's own Education, Agriculture, Health Directorates, a District Police Command and other agencies and department who are all working assiduously to ensure a prosperous Ayensuano District.

I will admonish the eligible Voters in these Region's to make us proud and ensure that they will all go for a YES. Yes for Development, Jobs, Hospitals, Clinics, Schools etc.

Please residents of these regions who are eligible to vote must endeavour to go to the voting centers, vote once, vote early and do not engage in any act of violence that will destruct the beauty of this whole exercise.

I am optimistic that by close of polls today, we will see an overwhelming endorsement of this referendum.

Be A Citizen And Not A Spectator

Columnist: Prince Aboagye Sakyi