President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo will from today [Tuesday] through to Friday, present the Constitutional Instruments to give legal backing for the creation of six new regions in the country.
This follows the December 27, 2018 referendum where residents within the catchment areas of the proposed new regions voted to give an overwhelming endorsement for the creation of the regions.
[contextly_sidebar id=”fgqrWCyyjhEW0xS85pTADK52DdJSSpNo”]The CI is expected to among other things name the selected capital towns of the regions.
The new regions are Western North, Ahafo, Bono East, Oti, North East, and Savannah.
According to a government statement, the North East and Savannah regions will have their constitutional instruments presented first on Tuesday, February 12, 2019, before the Bono East and Ahafo Region on Wednesday, February 13, 2019.
Jostling for capitals
Even before the government completes processes to have the six new regions carved out from some three existing regions, there is jostling in some areas over which town should be made the regional capital.
In the Bono East area, there are full campaigns to have Techiman named the regional capital.
Some people and chiefs of the Nkoranza Traditional Area have come out to accuse the Minister of Regional Reorganisation and Development, Dan Botwe, and his Deputy, Martin Adjei Mensah Korsah of sidelining them.
In the Savannah region which was created out of the current Northern Region, some groups have begun pushing for Damongo to be made the regional capital. Others are also campaigning for Salaga to be named the regional capital.
In the Ahafo area, four towns; Goaso, Duayaw-Nkwanta, Bechem and Kenyasi are said to be leading the race to be regional capital.
Reports suggest that either Bechem or Goaso will end up being named regional capital.
In the Oti area, there is an intense campaign by the chief of people of Buem to have Jasikan named the regional capital for the newly created Oti region.
Meanwhile, a Senior Research Fellow at the Institute of Democratic Governance (IDEG), Kwesi Jonah has said that only towns with substantial infrastructure already in place must be considered as the capitals of the newly created regions.
He said infrastructure such as good road network, sufficient accommodation facilities for prospective government officers must be prerequisites for the selection of the capitals for the new regions to accelerate development in the areas as expected.
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By: citinewsroom.com | Ghana
