Professor Ransford Gyampo, a research fellow with the Institute of Democratic Governance (IDEG), has warned that attempts at the creation of new regions could embolden calls for more regions to be carved out in other areas.
Speaking on Citi TV’s Point of View hosted by Bernard Avle, he said he would not be surprised at such ripple effects following the Justice S.A. Brobbey Commission of Inquiry’s recommendation for the creation of six new regions.
[contextly_sidebar id=”gSDSMulzw6bJqghev4JYvu8NrciwMyvK”]”Others would come in to demand that regions should be created in their favour… Next time I would not be surprised that you have other people coming in to demand more,” Prof. Gyampo said.
He also noted that future calls could be made purely along ethnic and heritage lines.
“If you look at the Eastern Region, for instance, there are Krobos there who will tell you that we are not Akans so create a region so we have a separate identity for ourselves.”
“If you go to the Central Region, people of the Assin could also say we are in the Central Region but we don’t speak Fante and so create a region so we get our own identity and all that,” he added.
The core argument being made in favour of the creation of new regions has been that it will boost development.
Some of the petitioners for the creation of new regions have cited neglect and a lack of development in their areas as the reason for their calls.
Upon receipt of the Justice S.A. Brobbey Commission of Inquiry’s report, President Nana Akufo-Addo has said new administrative regions have in the past been created to bring governance closer to the people.
He expressed hope that “the creation of these new regions will serve the same purposes.”
The Commission recommended the creation of the six new regions, i.e. Western North, Bono East, Ahafo, Savannah, North East, and Oti regions from the Western, Brong Ahafo, Volta and Northern Regions.
“When I weigh the case for and the case against… there are other basic and fundamental things that we can do to deliver development to the doorsteps of the people” – Prof. Gyampo.
Prof. Gyampo, however maintains that the new regions will not guarantee development.
He described it as a mere “political luxury” that can be shelved.
“If you split them into two, within those regions, districts will be operating within them. If you create regions and the districts within the regions still face the challenges that they face now, it will be meaningless.”
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By: Delali Adogla-Bessa/citinewsroom.com/Ghana