There is the need to explain to the people of Ghana how new regions can be created rather than just making a campaign promise to create one without detailing the processes to follow, Dr Edward Omane Boamah, Minister of Communications, has said.
According to him, President John Dramani Mahama’s plans to create five more regions is different from a similar promise made by opposition leader, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, who assured the people of the Western Region of a new region – the Western North Region – if elected president in the December elections.
Presenting highlights of his party’s manifesto for the upcoming December 7 polls, President Mahama said: “We currently have 10 regions and we believe that it is possible to increase the number to 15. So, we will set up a commission of enquiry that will look into the viability of increasing the number of administrative regions in Ghana from 10 to 15.”
He said “we will trigger that processes” once a recommendation is presented to affirm the viability of doing so.
When his attention was drawn to the fact that some government communicators mocked at Mr Akufo-Addo when he made a similar promise a month earlier, Dr Omane Boamah told Chief Jerry Forson, host of Ghana Yensom on Accra100.5FM that: “Article 5 of the 1992 Constitution spells out clearly how a new region can be created. It is not just for someone to stand somewhere to promise the people a new region.
“You will need to consider several factors including the size of the geographical area, the population of the area, and also a commission of enquiry will need to be established to look into the creation. There may even have to be a referendum and so it is not just simple to say you will create a new region.”
According to him, Mr Mahama has explained the ways to follow in order to create a new region, unlike Mr Akufo-Addo.
Source: Ghana/AccraFM.com
