President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has patted his government on the back for successfully implementing the proposals for and the creation of six new regions, describing it as historic.
“We have written some Ghanaian history,” he stated Tuesday, explaining that it is the first time under Ghana’s 1992 constitution that the provision on the creation of new regions have been “invoked and successfully been implemented”
In the run up to the 2016 general elections, then candidate Nana Akufo-Addo pledged to facilitate the creation of four regions from the Western, Northern, Brong Ahafo and Northern regions on the back of proposals from the chiefs and people in the area.
On assumption of office he established the Ministry of Regional Reorganisation and Development primarily to spearhead the creation of the new regions which according to the government was at the heart of the people in the areas.
Since June 2017, the government has through the Ministry championed all the constitutional processes required in the creation of the regions including the December 27, 2018 referendum which allowed the people to overwhelmingly endorse the creation of six new regions.
With at least 80 per cent vote, the people of voted for Ahafo, Bono East, Savannah, North East, Western North and Oti to be created out of Brong Ahafo, Northern Region, Western Region and Volta Region.
In line with Article 5(8) of the 1992 Constitution, President Akufo-Addo on Tuesday held the first of a series of ceremonies at the Jubilee House in Accra to issue a constitutional instrument to give effect to North East region.
Speaking to at the event, Nana Akufo-Addo said he was struck by the overwhelming endorsement of key people from the political divide of the need to create the region.
“It was clear that the process was demand driven and reflective of the will of the people as the constitution so intended,” he observed.
‘Raw political courage’
Minster of Regional Reorganisation and Development, Dan Botwe who could not hide his excitement for the successes achieved, said Nana Akufo-Addo exhibited what he termed “raw political courage” to be able to create the new regions.
This, he explained, was because he had to navigate the difficult political, economic and social terrain before he was able to make the creation of the new regions a success.
“There were doubts when president Nana Akufo -Addo embarked on the venture to create the new regions to reflect and fulfil the deeply and long held aspirations of our citizens in the affected areas.
“There were even predictions of national tension and attempts were made to delay the longheld desires of our fellow citizens,” he stated.
Despite these challenges, Mr. Botwe said such doubts and hand rigging, the President mustered courage and quality leadership to ensure the new regions were created.
“Mr. President, when we are all long gone and the history of our beloved country comes to be written, alongside all the things that made Ghanaians proud will stand the courage of a president who dare to believe, dare to let his deepest democratic instincts result in action, dare to keep a promise made and dare to take stand,” he said of Nana Akufo-Addo.
By Stephen Kwabena Effah|3news.com|Ghana