A section of the NDC supporters at the launch
After deriding the presidential candidate of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, who had promised to create another region out of the Western Region when given the nod in the December elections, President John Mahama has turned round to promise the creation of five more regions.
The president said he intends to increase the number of administrative regions in Ghana from 10 to 15 when re-elected in the December polls.
He made the announcement on Wednesday at the Banquet Hall of the State House in Accra where he gave the highlights of the yet-to-be-launched manifesto of his ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) towards the December 7 polls.
Mr. Mahama’s announcement follows the earlier promise by Nana Akufo-Addo, who during his campaign tour of the Western Region, assured some chiefs and people of his determination to create another region out of the Western Region to be called Western North Region.
Nana Akufo-Addo was criticized by some leading members of the NDC, including President Mahama when the former made the assertion.
Supporters of the NDC indicated that it was unnecessary to create a new region, accusing him of trying to divide the country with the concept.
Barely a month later, President Mahama has seen the wisdom in Nana’s policy and promised to create not just one region, but five, after his party had delayed its manifesto launch apparently to incorporate ‘new ideas’ tapped from the opposition NPP.
Commission Of Enquiry
According to the president, “We will set up a commission of enquiry to look into the creation of the new regions.”
He added, “We currently have 10 regions; but we believe that it is possible to increase the number of regions to 15.”
Furthermore, the president maintained, “And so this commission will receive petitions and based on that they will look at whether creation of those regions are viable options or not; and based on that recommendation we will trigger the constitutional processes.”
Manifesto
According to Mr. Mahama, the yet-to-be-launched manifesto titled, ‘Changing Lives, Transforming Ghana,’ is structured on four thematic areas.
The four thematic areas, he said, are: “Putting people first – and that covers social services and human resource; strong and resilient economy for jobs creation; expanding our social and economic infrastructure and transparent and accountable governance.”
He claimed, “It has been done in a very simple style and it has a brief introduction and we have it in four thematic areas and for every sector it introduces briefly, and it talks about our achievements and our commitments for the next four years.”
The manifesto is to be launched over the weekend in Sunyani, the Brong-Ahafo Regional capital.
By Melvin Tarlue