“Creation Of 6 New Regions In The Hands Of EC & Ghanaians” – President Akufo-Addo
The President of the Republic, Nana Addo Dankwa
Akufo-Addo, has stated that the process for the creation of 6 new
regions from the Western, Brong Ahafo, Volta and Northern Regions now
rest in the hands of the Electoral Commission and the Ghanaian people.
President Akufo-Addo made this known on Tuesday,
26th July, 2018, when he received the report from the Commission of
Inquiry, to inquire, pursuant to the petitions received, into the need
and substantial demand for the creation of new regions.
In the report submitted to the President by the
Chairperson of the Commission, Mr. Justice S.A. Brobbey, at the Jubilee
House, the Commission recommended the creation of the six new regions,
i.e. Western North, Bono East, Ahafo, Savannah, North East, and Oti
regions.
The Commission has, thus, further recommended that
the Electoral Commission hold referenda in these new proposed regions to
determine whether the constitutional thresholds for the creation of new
regions will be met by the vote of the people affected.
In his remarks, the President expressed his deep
appreciation to the 9-person Commission, for bringing to a conclusion
this momentous undertaking, noting that he followed with keen interest
the proceedings of the Commission, and was satisfied with the wide
nature of the consultations undertaken.
With the potential creation of the 6 new regions, the
President reiterated that, at least, 50% of the persons entitled to
vote must vote in each of the different referenda, and, of the votes
cast, at least 80% must be cast in favour of the creation of a region
for the demand to succeed.
“The Constitution insists that the process and
outcome must be guided by the popular will, and it is my earnest wish
that the holding of the referenda will be conducted in an orderly and
peaceful manner,” he said.
Generally, the President explained that throughout
history, administrative regions have been created to bring governance
closer to the people and accelerate socio-economic development.
Hopefully, he added, “the creation of these new regions will serve the same purposes.”
President Akufo-Addo acknowledged, with gratitude,
the support of the Ghanaian people in their different components –
Members of the Council of State, Regional Ministers, Members of
Parliament, Municipal and District Chief Executives, traditional rulers,
security personnel, public servants, opinion leaders and members of the
media, professionals, workers and farmers – for the work of the
Commission during its consultations and public hearings.
“We are chartering new paths in the development of
Ghanaian democracy. This is the first time that, in a constitutional
era, regions are being created under constitutional provisions. The work
of this Commission will definitely be one of the landmarks in that
journey. History will definitely applaud, I have no doubt, the manner in
which this Commission has discharged its historic duty,” the President
added.
He noted that it would be remiss of him not to pay
tribute to the Minister for Regional Reorganisation and Development,
Hon. Dan Kwaku Botwe, Member of Parliament for Okere, for the
exhaustive, painstaking and sensitive work that he has done to bring
this matter to its present state.
“General, as he is often referred to in NPP circles,
ayekoo. You have proved yourself a public servant of the highest
pedigree, and I thank Almighty God for the inspiration that led me to
choose you to lead this vital, national initiative,” the President said.
Now, the President concluded, “the process will be in the hands of the Electoral Commission and the people.”
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