Campaign for creation of North East Region begins in earnest

Some residents in the West Mamprusi, Mamprugu Magduri, East Mamprugu, Bumkprugu/Nyankpaduru, Yunyoo Nasun and Chereponi districts and municipalities in the Northern Region have kick-started a campaign for a YES vote for the creation of the North East Region.

Representatives from the local government, private citizens, school children, artisans and other interest groups within the catchment area have marched through the principal streets of Walewale in the West Mamprusi municipality, advocating for a YES in the upcoming referendum.

The Justice Brobbey Commission recommended the creation of six more regions to bring the total number in the country to 16.

Two of these new regions are to be carved out of the current Brong Ahafo Region – for the Ahafo and Brong East regions – and two out of the current Northern Region – to have North East and Savannah regions.

The others are one each from Western, to be known as Western North, and another from Volta to be known as Oti.

The recommendations of the Commission have since been referred to the Electoral Commission, Ghana (EC) to organize a referendum in the affected areas as required by the 1992 Constitution.

Even though there has been a fallout in the legal interpretation of the constitution as to whether the referendum should be held only in the affected areas or for the entire country, the EC has set December 27, 2018 for the referendum.

This would therefore require the various affected areas to galvanize support either in favour or against the creation of the new regions.

The Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) for West Mamprusi Municipality, Abu Mohammed, said the creation of the North East region has come at a time when the six proposed MMDCEs under the proposed region are lagging behind in terms of development and for that reason they are making sure residents turn out in their numbers on December 27, 2018 to vote yes in the referendum.

The Municipal Secretary of the Committee for the Creation of the New Region, Mohammed Rabiu Jabaah, said the future of the youth rests in the new region due to its significant importance.

He is optimistic of polling a 95% Yes during the referendum.