Dan Botwe
Majority of the participants at a public hearing organized in the Western Region by the Commission of Inquiry as part of efforts to create the Western North Region have supported the initiative, saying that it would help fast-track the needed development in the northern parts of the Western Region.
“Majority of us support the carving of a new region out of the existing one, but we will plead that the two regions should not be denied the requisite developmental projects to commiserate with the large chunk of natural resources the area produced,” they indicated.
The hearing by the Justice Allan Brobbey Commission forms part of processes towards the creation of the new regions.
Yesterday’s hearing was attended by traditional and opinion leaders, the clergy, past and present Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs) and Presiding members, Members of Parliament (MPs) from the region, civil society organizations, market women, the media and the general public.
The participants, mostly from the northern part of the region, who travelled to Takoradi yesterday to participate in the public hearing, spoke passionately about the lack of a befitting development plan for the region that produces 60 percent of the country’s resources.
Yusihg Gyamson, a former Presiding Member of the Sekondi-Takoradi Metropolitan Assembly, noted that the creation of the Western North Region was purely for developmental purposes.
“It is a step taken to ensure that the northern part of the Western Region will benefit from the national cake and so when the new region is created it should not be abandoned in terms of development projects.
He continued: “It is sad to note that the Sekondi-Takoradi Metropolis is the third largest in the country aside Accra and Kumasi. But any time government officials are mentioning the three leading metropolis in the country they will mention Accra, Kumasi and Tamale.”
Issa Fuseini, an opinion leader at Effia, mentioned that the creation of the new region was necessary and called for the support of all the people, adding “This will also require the cooperation of the chiefs and people in the said area.”
Chairman of the Commission, Justice SA Brobey, noted that after meeting the petitioners from the regions, the presidential Commission of Inquiry on the creation of the new regions is set to meet the people in the affected areas through a public hearing.
“The commission is expected to peruse all petitions as well as collate public views on how best to proceed with the request to split up some regions subject to a referendum,” he added.
He pointed out that so far, the commission had received petitions from the Northern, Western, Brong Ahafo and Volta regions with each making strong case for the creation of their respective regions.
He explained that before the creation of the new regions could happen, the 1992 Constitution of the Republic of Ghana proposes that a referendum is held with a 50 percent voter turnout, out of which over 80 percent of the voters must register their approval for the split.
Similar public hearing will be organized in Aowin-Suaman, Wassa Amenfi District, Bia East District, Sefwi Wiawso Municipality and the Bibiani-Anhwiaso-Bekwai District, all in the northern parts of the region.
From Emmanuel Opoku, Takoradi