Government to establish a commission of enquiry for the creation of new regions – Minister
The government will soon establish a commission of enquiry to facilitate the creation of four additional regions in the country, Mr Dan Kwaku Botwe, the Minister of Regional Reorganization and Development, has announced.
The commission would be tasked to organise a national discourse, in accordance with Article five of the 1992 constitution, the sector minister explained, when he addressed the Brong-Ahafo Regional House of Chiefs at a workshop on Tuesday.
Organised by the House with support from the Konrad Adenauer-Stiftung, (KAS) a German political foundation which promotes good governance and democracy, the workshop was aimed at discussing the need to carve-out and create the new Ahafo Region.
Mr Botwe urged the chiefs to exercise restraint as the government worked out modalities as enshrined in the constitution for the creation of the new regions.
He said the creation of a new region entailed a lot, adding that the commission ought to present its report to the President after the national discourse, and this would subsequently be forwarded to the Electoral Commission.
A referendum would, however, be held and with the approval of the citizenry the decision to create the new regions would be put before parliament.
Mr Botwe said government was committed to actively engage traditional rulers in the national reconstruction process.
He said as the embodiment of the people, chiefs and queens could not be left out in nation building process, and entreated traditional authorities to rally behind government in its efforts.
Pimampem Yaw Kagbrese V, the President of the Brong-Ahafo Regional House of Chiefs, said the creation of the new Ahafo Region, would propel development and appealed to government to speed up the constitutional processes.
Dr Owusu Mensah, representative of KAS, said regional re-organisation is a complex process, which needs the support from “physical experts”.
He said it is necessary for the foundation to create a common platform for the chiefs to interact with the ministry on the creation of the new region and expressed optimism that the regional reorganization process would facilitate accelerated national development.
Mr Evans Opoku Bobie, the Deputy Brong-Ahafo Regional Minister, commended the house of chiefs for their support towards peace building and the development of the region.
Source: GNA