Oti Region
AS THE DECEMBER 27, 2018, timeline nears for a referendum aimed at creating the proposed Oti Region, a group calling itself ‘One Volta Group’ has kicked against the creation of the region.
The proposed Oti Region is expected to be carved out of the Volta Region but the group appears to be unhappy with the move.
In a statement delivered by its Director, Togbe Hortormaho Ameddake III, at a recent news conference, One Volta Group, which claims to be a civil society and advocacy organization, said its opposition to the creation of the region was based on the fact that “critical referendum, issues or factors such as boundaries, capital town, etc. have not been thoroughly interrogated.”
Also he said, “One Volta Group kicks against the creation of this new Oti Region with the reason that there has been a claim of substantial demand from petitioners and as brothers and sisters we also want to see for ourselves but nobody seems to give us ears”.
He added that “also, the work of the commission confirms that there was substantial demand and recommended certain measures but this report was not in the public domain and is still not there. Aside from procedural issues, we believe that the peace, safety and tranquility enjoyed by the people of the Volta Region over the years have been undermined”.
According to him, “One Volta Group wishes to draw the attention of all Voltarians to this by demanding responsible attitude and reconciliatory gestures from all and to resolve to go to a credible transparent, free and fair referendum so that wherever the Ball falls, we can still enjoy our peace.”
He observed that “you will bear with us that Ghana used to have nine regions but was increased to 10 in 1983 by splitting the then Upper Region to Upper East and Upper West by the then PNDC government. Today, to fulfill a campaign promise made by the ruling government to create more regions, a whole ministry is created to see to the splitting of Volta, Northern and the Western Regions. The question is: what do we seek to achieve for splitting these regions?”
BY Melvin Tarlue