A pressure group in the newly-created Western North region, Western North Solidarity Movement (WNSM), has petitioned President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo to reverse the policy of scattering government departments and agencies across the various districts rather than centralising them at the capital, Sefwi Wiawso, for easy accessibility and promote cohesion.
A statement signed by a four-member executive team led by, Lieutenant Colonel, A. Aduhene (rtd), said the new policy defeats the reasons why the chiefs and people agitated for the creation of the region.
Currently, the Regional Feeder Roads Office is being relocated to Enchi from Sefwi Wiawso, the Regional Health Directorate to Bodi, the Regional Education Directorate to Bibiani and the Regional Agriculture Office to Juaboso.
The statement said the fragmentation policy was counter-productive and will take them back to the days when they had to travel long distances to access government facilities in Takoradi.
"What Bodi for instance needs, is a district hospital and not a regional directorate," the statement suggested to the president.
The statement said the long distances that separates the offices has the propensity to drive away professionals and scaring away investors.
It said the decision amounted to establishing for instance the Ministry of Finance in Accra and citing another ministry in Sunyani, saying it's defective.
While calling for the centralisation of all the regional offices at Sefwi Wiawso as it has been done in Accra at the Ministries, the statement urged the president to provide the regional capitals with basic amenities.
The amenities listed in the statement include good road networks, educational and health facilities, good transportational system including introducing STC and other intra-city buses, standardized recreational centres including a modern stadium, potable drinking water, affordable housing and establishment of law courts.
It also appealed to the president to rechristened the Wiawso and Enchi Colleges of education to "Akufo Addo university of Western North."
The proposal included making the Enchi College an autonomous and a separate university in the future.
Source: Daily Graphic
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