'Don’t sabotage efforts to create new regions' - Kagbresi V

Pemampem Yaw Kagbrese V, the paramount chief of Yeji Traditional Area, on Thursday advised Ghanaians not to sabotage government's efforts to create new regions for development purposes.

He also pleaded, particularly, with the media and civil society organisations, to intensify public education on the referendum process to achieve useful outcomes.

The paramount chief said it would be unfortunate for any Ghanaian to sabotage the constitutional provision being invoked by the government in its efforts to facilitate accelerated national development.

Pemampem Kagbrese V gave the advice at a public hearing on the proposed carving out of the Bono East from the Brong-Ahafo Region.

It was organised by the Commission of Inquiry looking into the creation of the new regions in the country.

Pemampem Kagbrese, who is the President of the Brong-Ahafo Regional House of Chiefs, said issues concerning national development must be deliberated devoid of partisan lines.

He called on the government to shun all "political saboteurs" and detractors, and focus on programmes that would push forward national development.

Justice Stephen Allan Brobbey, the Chair of the Commission reminded the people that the work of the Commission was to facilitate the constitutional processes for the creation of the regions.

He said it was up to the people to inform the Commission on the need for the government to create the Bono East Region.

Mr. Kwaku Asomah-Cheremeh, the Brong-Ahafo Regional Minister said the government is a listening one and for that matter could not impose the creation of the regions on the people.

As a constitutional requirement, the Regional Minister said it was left with the people to justify why the government must create the Bono East Region by fully participating in the referendum.

In an open forum, the people identified lack of potable drinking water, educational and health facilities as well as high unemployment rate as some of the reasons for their demand for the creation of the region.