Creation of new regions: Justice Commission briefs National House of Chiefs

The Commission of Enquiry into the proposed creation of new regions led by its chairman, Justice Stephen Alan Brobbey, on Wednesday April 18, 2018, in Kumasi, has briefed the National House of Chiefs on their activities since the inauguration of the commission by President Akufo Addo in October 2017.

The Commission which was inaugurated by President Nana Addo in October 2017 was to collate views from the public on the creation of the proposed three new regions from the Western, Brong Ahafo and Volta.

Briefing the house, Justice Brobbey said the visit which was last of their public hearing, was to update them of their activities since October 2017.

“The Commission of Enquiry whose work has been outlined by the Minister has been set up to enquire into the creation of new regions. It is a fact finding one in the sense that our responsibilities require that we investigate or probe into two main items. The first is the need of creation of new regions and the second, the existence of substantial demand for the creation of regions,” he said.

He said in the performance of their duties as commission have adopted four main proceedings, starting with the hearing of the petitioners who made cases to President Akufo Addo, which the president received six petitions, “we then moved to the regions and consulted the people on the ground, after that we returned to Accra to listen to anyone else who who wanted to make submission to the petitioners on the creation of regions.”

“what we here for is part of of the last leg of our consultation, we are literally here to listen to you, or hear, collate and gather any information, advice or remarks our chiefs may have on the creation of regions in the determination of whether or not there is the need for the creation of a particular region, or whether or not there is a substantial demand for the creation of a particular region,” he told the chiefs.

The President of the National House of Chiefs Togbe Afede XIV observed that the chiefs are very much concerned with the work and findings of the commission.

“The work of the commission has a direct effect on chiefs in the country as the creation of these proposed new regions could affect the peace and harmony in the country if done wrongly, I therefore call on you to ensure that the citizens see the commission as a fact finding commission and not as a commission that is trying to provide justifications in favour of a predetermined course, he added.

On his part, the Minister for Regional Reorganization and Development, Dan Botwe, disclosed that meeting the National House of Chiefs was necessary for the commission to complete its work and Ghana is expecting six new regions in the proposed creation of these new regions.

He added that that the commission has followed all due process and has met all stakeholders to collate the needed facts.

The nine-member commission which was inaugurated on Thursday October 19, 2017, at the Presidency by the president Nana Akuffo Addo is to present their findings to the president in few days to come.