President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo yesterday gave a major boost to his campaign promise of creating new regions in the country when he announced the creation of a new administrative entity called Ministry of Regional Re-organisation and Development.
The ministry is expected to be headed by the Member of Parliament (MP) for Okere, Dan Kwaku Botwe.
At a press conference at the Flagstaff House in Accra to announce his second batch of ministerial nominees, the president mentioned the Western, Brong-Ahafo, Northern and Volta Regions as those likely to be affected after a referendum.
The Western-North Region is expected to be carved out of the present Western Region, another out of the Brong Ahafo Region, the Northern and the proposed Oti Region from the Volta Region.
He has since tasked the Minister-designate, Dan Botwe, to oversee the process leading to the fulfillment of this major campaign promise of the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP), if approved by parliament.
The new ministry is also expected to restructure governance in the country and supervise processes leading to the fulfillment of the president’s campaign promise of making the positions of Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives (MMDCE) electable.
Speaking at the press briefing, President Akufo-Addo, stressed the belief that “the process of devolution of power will require that we look again at the regional structures of our country, all with the aim of trying to promote rapid development of Ghana.”
Whiles he admitted to the fact that the constitutional requirement for the creation of regions is stringent, he noted, “When you come to the consultative process with the people, you are talking about 50% of those who are affected by the decision, having to come out to vote.”
Out of that, he indicated that 80% must approve the demand for the creation of the region.
He deems it a major exercise since the decision to create a new region cannot be merely effected with the stroke of a pen.
This is the reason why he has decided to choose Dan Botwe who he said has extensive experience in mass mobilization to lead the process.
“He is going to need the support not just of the cabinet, of the government but the party, its machinery and to the extent possibly, cobbling together all the coalitions to make this thing happen,” the president declared.
The government intends to go through the processes by the middle of 2018.
Source: Daily Guide
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Nana, you have done well by sticking to one of the several promises you made. At least it is a start but I think it is good move. These days, you dont necessarily need to build factories and import machines to be able to create jobs. Jobs are mostly creatyed in the service sector and so, Mr President, by creating these regions you are going to give jobs to numerous people, from the cleaner in the regional offices to the Regional ministers, not to mention not only the sector jobs that will be created in the service sector, but also the econpomic activities that will be carried out in these regions. Just think about the insfrastructures that will be built in these regions and the number of masons, carpenters and electricians etc. that will be employed. Oh the jobs will surely be there. Look at Wa now? i was a student at the Upper West region in the 80s and with due respect, at that time, there was no taxi, the station was full of sheep and cattle but now, although a lot still needs to be done, I even love to go back and live there, thanks to Rawlings idea of making Upper West a region.So Nana, I know step by step, we will get there and you will surely bring us to the promised land.
What of Ashanti region, why the target on Volter, North , B/A and western. this is not necessary
So someday in the not too distant future, my hometown will change and I will not be an indigene of my current region? HmmM???