<![CDATA[NO CoVax Ghana-Net.com - Ghana District News]]>Sat, 18 Jun 2022 14:52:46 -0700Weebly<![CDATA[NPP extends executives mandate to new regions]]>Thu, 21 Feb 2019 19:09:35 GMThttp://ghana-net.com/ghana-district-news/npp-extends-executives-mandate-to-new-regionsTHE NEW Patriotic Party (NPP) says it has extended the mandate of its executives to the six newly created regions.

President Akufo-Addo from Tuesday 12th February to Friday, 15th February, presented the Constitutional Instruments giving effects to the new regions at the Jubilee House in Accra.
​The regions are Bono East, Savannah, North East, Western North, Ahafo and Oti.

NPP in a statement signed by its General Secretary, John Boadu, said it has extended the mandate of current regional executives of the party in the regions that have been affected by the recent regional reorganization, comprising the Northern, Brong Ahafo, Western and Volta Regions.

The current regional executives of these regions shall, accordingly, it stated, ‘exercise jurisdiction in the newly created regions, consisting of North East, Savanna, Bono East, Ahafo, Western North and Oti regions, as applicable.’

According to the statement, the party will soon come out with guidelines and modalities on how substantive executives will be selected/elected to occupy the “vacant” regional executive committee positions. - Source: Daily Guide Africa
]]><![CDATA[Nalerigu named capital of newly created North East Region]]>Wed, 13 Feb 2019 00:06:56 GMThttp://ghana-net.com/ghana-district-news/nalerigu-named-capital-of-newly-created-north-east-region“Nalerigu has been chosen as the capital of the North East region”
President Akufo-Addo has named Nalerigu as the capital town of the North East Region
Nana Addo announced the selection at a ceremony, held at the presidency, to present the Constitutional Instrument backing the creation of the new region, on Tuesday.

This is the first of six regional capitals, to be named, and as the statement from the presidency announced, the 5 remaining regional capitals will be named by Friday, February 15 - 2019.  Source: ghanaweb-news.com
]]><![CDATA[Naming capital for new regions not Akufo-Addo’s immediate concern + Video]]>Tue, 12 Feb 2019 23:49:10 GMThttp://ghana-net.com/ghana-district-news/naming-capital-for-new-regions-not-akufo-addos-immediate-concern-videoWhile traditional leaders from newly-created regions pile pressure on the government to choose their preferred areas as capital, Myjoyonline.com is learning that naming the capitals is the least of the concerns of President Nana Akufo-Addo
After the chiefs and people of the affected areas petitioned the President asking for the regions to be created, which saw a massive endorsement for the creation of the regions in a December 27, 2018 referenda, the chiefs are now agitating among themselves over which towns must be selected as the administrative capital.

Although they acknowledge the decision to name a particular town as capital for a new region is the sole preserve of the President, some of them are accusing the Regional Reorganisation and Development Minister, Dan Botwe, and his deputy, Martin Adjei Korsah, of sabotaging their interests.

The new regions are Western North, Ahafo, Bono East, Oti, North East, and Savannah.

C.I presentation

President Akufo-Addo will from Wednesday, publicly present the Constitutional Instrument on the creation of the six new regions when he hosts delegations of chiefs on February 12, 13 and 15.

By Friday, Ghana’s administrative regions will officially be increased from 10 to 16.

But the chiefs and people of Nkoranza Traditional Council who want Nkoranza as the new capital, say they have been sidelined.

They believe the central location of Nkoranza makes it well placed and accessible enough to be named the capital of the newly created Bono East Region.

Speaking on Top Story on Joy FM, Monday, one of them, Chief of Buabeng, Nana Owusu Damoa Ameyaw III, said the capital of the newly created Bono East should be located at a place that meets the aspirations and wishes of the new region.

Furthermore, on Friday, the youth of Wawale, which is located in the newly-created North East region, petitioned Mr. Bowte to consider siting the capital of the new region in the town. They highlighted a number of factors to buttress their case for the capital to be sited in Walewale. Chiefs from Nalerigu and Gambaga have also publicly lobbied for the capital of the region. 
“It is our conviction that the creation of the new North East Region will accelerate development and improve the quality of life of the people,” they said, adding that “to achieve this, the technocrats must take into consideration so many factors and also distinguish between traditional and administrative authority, thereby ensuring that a proper survey is done for the proper siting of the capital.”

However, Myjoyonline.com has learnt that the government may not be naming the capitals anytime soon.

This is because unlike previously where all regional offices and secretariats are centered in the capitals, the government rather intends to spread such facilities and offices across the new regions.

Distributing these facilities around the newly-created regions, according to a source, is what the government is currently being engrossed with.

This, government hopes, will open up and promote development in the newly created regions.  Source: myjoyonline. com
]]><![CDATA[Blows over Regional Capitals - February 12th, 2019]]>Tue, 12 Feb 2019 23:38:48 GMThttp://ghana-net.com/ghana-district-news/february-12th-2019An intense ‘fight’ has ensued over the siting of the regional capitals in the newly-created regions.

Six regions namely- Western North carved out of the Western Region, Ahafo and Bono East carved out of the Brong Ahafo Region, Oti carved out of the Volta Region, as well as the North-East and Savannah carved out of the Northern Region would come into existence by Friday, according to Regional Reorganisation and Development Minister, Dan Kwaku Botwe.
Following a referendum described as successful by many which led to the creation of six additional regions, President Akufo-Addo is scheduled to present Constitutional Instruments (CIs) for the establishment of all the regions, starting with the North East and Savannah Regions today.

There have been intense lobbying and demonstrations in some of the major towns of the regions after the chiefs and people claimed they were being sidelined in the process to name the capitals.

After uniting to rally their people to campaign massively for a ‘Yes’ vote for the new regions, the respective chiefs and traditional leaders are the ones leading the lobbying which has been characterized by agitations.

Yesterday for instance, the chiefs and people of Nkoranza, which is in the Bono East Region, claimed they were being short-changed in the naming of the regional capital.

Some residents in Sefwi Wiawso and Bibiani have started clamouring for the new region’s capital in their respective towns immediately the referendum was over.

Those in Bibiani claimed the town is the centre of the new region and would be accessible to all people in Western North.

However, residents in the Sefwi Wiawso Municipality insisted that the area is ‘primed’ for the regional capital and said the municipality already has the requisite infrastructure to host the new region’s capital.

Residents in the Bono East and Ahafo Regions have also been ‘fighting’ to get their towns to host the regional capitals.

In Ahafo, people in major towns like Goaso in the Asunafo North Municipality, Bechem in the Tano South Municipality, as well as Hwidiem in the Asutifi South Municipality, all want to host the regional capital.

For Bono East, Techiman in the Techiman Municipality, Kintampo in the Kintampo Municipality, Nkoranza, as well as Atebubu in the Atebubu Amantin Municipality, have been tussling for the regional capital

There has been intense lobbying in Oti Region where big towns like Nkwanta, Jasikan, Kadjebi, Krachi and Dambai, are all up for the regional capitals and the powerful chiefs in the respective areas are not giving anything to chance.

Savannah

However, in the newly-created Savannah Region, it’s a straight fight between Damongo and Salaga while in the case of North-East Region, three prominent towns Walewale, Nalerigu and Gambaga are fiercely competing for the capital.

Meanwhile, the sector minister, Dan Botwe has reacted to claims by the chiefs and people of Nkoranza that the government is shortchanging them.

He said nobody would be allowed to stampede the government into doing what is not right as far as the siting of the capitals are concerned.

“You can’t threaten or intimidate the ministry or the President…discussions have been held and the right thing will be done. The language from everyone is that they will accept the President’s decision and so I don’t know where this is coming from,” he told Peace FM yesterday.

He said, “Discussions have been held and we are not singling out anybody. Their accusations are totally baseless and an insult to my integrity. “We are focused on what we are doing; they should be embarrassed that they are making such accusations, pure tactics.”

“You are insulting the intelligence of the president and that is what whoever wrote that petition is trying to do. If you claim it is the prerogative of the president then what are you talking about? Nobody will be intimidated by this…Some are not worried about the capital but are interested in development and they have already started lobbying and not fighting about where the capital will be…we are focused on what we are doing and we know the majority of the people are happy with what we are doing,” he added.
Sourcce: dailyguideafrica. com 

]]><![CDATA[Don’t allow selection of regional capitals take shine out of objectives — Dan Botwe]]>Sun, 10 Feb 2019 01:09:32 GMThttp://ghana-net.com/ghana-district-news/dont-allow-selection-of-regional-capitals-take-shine-out-of-objectives-dan-botweMinister of Regional Re organisation and Development, Mr Dan Kwaku Botwe, has asked the chiefs and people of the various segments of the six new regions not to allow the selection of the regional capitals to take the shine out of the core objectives that were advanced for the creation of the regions.
He stated that while it was the democratic right of chiefs of the various traditional areas to lobby for the siting of the regional capitals in their respective areas, such agitations should give way for unity of purpose which were exhibited before the referenda for the successful implementation of the development agenda of the new regions.

Mr Botwe gave the advice during separate meetings with chiefs and municipal, and district chief executives (MDCEs) of the Bono East and Ahafo areas in Sunyani to brief them about the latest development after the December 27, 2018 referenda held for the creation of new regions.

Constitutional Instruments (CIs)

He stated that on Tuesday, February 12, 2019, the President would hold separate meetings with the chiefs and people of the Savanah and North East areas in the Northern Region at the Jubilee House during which the CIs for the creation of the two regions would be issued to give an enabling effect of the results of the December 27, 2018 referenda.

The chiefs and people of the Bono East and Ahafo enclaves in the Brong Ahafo Region will take their turns on Wednesday, February 13, 2019 at the Jubilee House for the same purpose.

Mr Botwe explained that the chiefs and people of the Western North and Oti areas of the Western and Volta regions respectively would also separately meet the President at the Jubilee House on Friday, February 15, 2019 for the issuance of the CIs for the creation of the two regions.

According to him, the regional capitals of the six new regions would be part of the CIs which would be issued to conclude processes for their creation.

“No matter what happens, we will get regional capitals for the new six regions”, he stated and expressed concern about the unhealthy agitation and lobbying for the siting of the capitals.

Mr Botwe reminded them that efforts made by the chiefs and people for the creation of the new regions were geared towards development areas and bringing governance to the doorsteps of the people and not for the development of any particular town.

“Every part of the new region will be developed”, he said explaining that the government would focus attention on the development of the new regions.

“There will be an affirmative action. There will be a deliberate action by the government to make sure that they will get the accelerated development that they sought for”, he stated and charged the chiefs and people of the new regions to let these objectives be their focus.

Mr Botwe disclosed that a high-powered ministerial committee set up by President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo on January 4, 2019 for the formulation of an action plan on the short to medium-term development plan of the six new regions had already submitted its report.

He explained that the old order whereby development projects were concentrated in the regional capitals would not be repeated in the new six regions.

According to Mr Botwe, there would be a deliberate action to ensure that some decentralised departments were located at the various geographical areas to let the people feel that governance had come to their doorsteps.

Responses

The Omanhene of the Yeji Traditional Area, Pimampim Yaw Kagbrese, who spoke on behalf of the chiefs and people of the Bono East, thanked the President for working tirelessly for the creation of the new regions.

He advised the chiefs and the people of the six new regions to accept the government’s decision for the selection of the regional capitals and forge ahead for the socio-economic development of the areas.

The Omanhene of the Ntotroso Traditional Area, Barima Twereko Ampem, who spoke on behalf of the chiefs and people of the Ahafo area, said the people were extremely grateful to the government for its efforts to make their dream of having an administrative region become a reality.  Source: Daily Graphic Ghana
]]><![CDATA[Let’s focus on objectives of new regions - Dan Botwe]]>Sat, 09 Feb 2019 21:16:33 GMThttp://ghana-net.com/ghana-district-news/lets-focus-on-objectives-of-new-regions-dan-botweThe Minister of Regional Reorganisation and Development, Mr Dan Kwaku Botwe, has asked the chiefs and people of the six new regions not to allow the selection of the regional capitals to take the shine off the core objectives that were advanced for the creation of the regions.
He stated that while it was the democratic right of chiefs of the various traditional areas to lobby for the siting of the regional capitals in their respective areas, such agitations should give way for unity of purpose, which were exhibited before the referendum, for the successful implementation of the development of the new regions.

Mr Botwe gave the advice during separate meetings with chiefs, municipal, and district chief executives (MDCEs) of the Bono East and Ahafo areas in Sunyani to brief them about the latest developments after the December 27, 2018 referendum held to create the new regions.

Constitutional Instruments

He stated that on Tuesday, the President would hold separate meetings with the chiefs and people of the Savanah and the North East areas being carved out of the Northern Region at the Jubilee House, during which the Constitutional Instruments (CIs) for the creation of the two regions would be issued to provide the enabling effect of the results of the December 27, 2018 referendum.

The chiefs and people of the Bono East and the Ahafo enclaves, carved out of the Brong Ahafo Region, would take their turn on Wednesday (February 13, 2019) at the Jubilee House for the same purpose.

Mr Botwe explained that the chiefs and people of the Western North and the Oti areas of the Western and Volta regions, respectively, would, also, separately meet the President at the Jubilee House on Friday, February 15, 2019 for the issuance of the CIs for the creation of the two regions.

According to him, the regional capitals of the six new regions would be part of the CIs which would be issued to conclude the processes for their creation.

Capitals

“No matter what happens, we will get regional capitals for the new six regions,” he stated, and expressed concern about the unhealthy agitation and lobbying for the siting of the capitals.

Mr Botwe reminded all that efforts made by the chiefs and people for the creation of the new region were geared towards the development of the areas and bringing governance to the doorsteps of the people and not for the development of any particular town.

“Every part of the new regions will be developed,” he said, explaining that the government would focus on the development of the new regions.

“There will be an affirmative action. There will be a deliberate action by the government to make sure that they will get the accelerated development that they sought for,” he stated, and charged the chiefs and people of the new regions to let those objectives be their focus.

Action plan

Mr Botwe disclosed that a high-powered ministerial committee, set up by President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo on January 4, 2019 for the formulation of an action plan on the short to medium-term development plan of the six new regions, had already submitted its report.

He explained that the old order where development projects were concentrated in the regional capitals would not be repeated in the new six regions.

According to Mr Botwe, there would be a deliberate action to ensure that some decentralised departments were located at the various geographical areas to send governance to the doorsteps of people.

Responses

The Omanhene of the Yeji Traditional Area, Pimampim Yaw Kagbrese, who spoke on behalf of the chiefs and people of Bono East, thanked the President for working tirelessly for the creation of the new regions.

He advised chiefs and people in the new six regions to accept the government’s decision for the selection of the regional capitals and forge ahead for the socio-economic development of the areas.

The Omanhene of the Ntotroso Traditional Area, Barima Twereko Ampem, who spoke on behalf of the chiefs and people of the Ahafo area, said the people were extremely grateful to the government for its efforts to make their dream of having an administrative region a reality.  Source: Daily Graphic Ghana
]]><![CDATA[Akufo-Addo to give effect to 6 new regions Tuesday]]>Sat, 09 Feb 2019 08:00:00 GMThttp://ghana-net.com/ghana-district-news/akufo-addo-to-give-effect-to-6-new-regions-tuesdayPresident Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo will on February 12 issue a constitutional instrument to give effect to the six new regions.

An overwhelming ‘Yes’ vote on December 27, 2018, saw the creation of Ahafo, Bono East, North East, Oti, Savannah, and Western North Regions.
The President is required by Article 5(8) of the 1992 Constitution to issue a CI giving effect or enabling effect to the results of the referendum for the creation of new regions.

In line with this, Minister of Regional Reorganisation and Development, Mr Dan Botwe, has announced a ceremony has been scheduled at the Jubilee House for Nana Akufo-Addo to issue the CI which will also name the regional capitals for the six regions.

“On the 12 of February 2019, we will all meet at the Jubilee House for Mr. President to perform the final act of giving effect to the results of the referendum,” he told Overlord of Mamprugu, the Nayiri, Naa Bohagu Mahami Abdulai Sheriga, during a courtesy call.

The regional capitals, he noted, have been decided on by the president through a wider consultation and would be announced on the inauguration day.

“President Nana Addo has also done a lot of consultation with chiefs and stakeholders on the siting of capitals,” Mr. Botwe added.

The minister reiterated that development in the newly created regions will be spread out across towns in the new regions.
Background

Citing under-development and inequalities, opinion and traditional leaders in the new six regions petitioned President Nana Akufo-Addo to initiate processes for them to be given regional independence.

Consequent to the petition, the President constituted a Commission of Inquiry to collate views on the proposal after which the Commission recommended to the government to proceed with the creation of the new regions.

The EC was then given the go ahead to hold the referendum for the people in the six new regions to decide whether the regions should be created.

Despite the expression of misgivings about the creation of the new regions and legal action, the road was cleared for the EC to conduct the referendum on December 27.
Source; 3news. com
]]><![CDATA[New regional capitals to be named on February 12]]>Sat, 09 Feb 2019 06:12:53 GMThttp://ghana-net.com/ghana-district-news/new-regional-capitals-to-be-named-on-february-12The capitals of the six newly created regions will be known next Tuesday, February 12. On that day, President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo will issue a Constitutional Instrument (CI) to give effect to the creation of the regions and the capitals.
The Minister of Regional Reorganisation and Development, Mr Dan Botwe, made this known when he paid a courtesy call on the Overlord of Mamprugu, the Nayiri, Naa Bohagu Mahami Abdulai Sheriga, at his palace last Tuesday to officially invite him to the ceremony on behalf of the President.

He said the President had extended invitations to chiefs, opinion leaders, municipal and district chief executives and various stakeholders to the Jubilee House for the historic ceremony.

Already, the results of the referendum that created the new regions have been gazetted by the Electoral Commission (EC) and the President issuing the CI will be the final act to be performed for the full creation and inauguration of the new regions.

Jostling

For some time now the names of some towns have been bandied around, especially in the media, as frontrunners to be named as the capitals of the new regions, but the President wil put the issue to rest when he makes the announcement next week.

Some chiefs and opinion leaders are in the forefront for the selection of their favourite towns as the capitals.

For instance, Naa Mahami Sheriga recently made a strong case for Nalerigu to be made the capital of the new North East Region.

In making his case, he told journalists that the town was strategically located at the centre of the new region and that it would be convenient for all the people in the region to access it.

But Nalerigu will be facing stiff competition from Walewale, which has also been mentioned as a strong contender.

Savannah

For the Savannah Region, the Overlord of the Gonja Traditional Area,Yagbonwura Sulemana Jakpa Tutumba I, said Damongo was best suited as the regional capital. In a speech read on his behalf at a forum on the referendum in Damongo, he stated that despite the different

views being expressed on which town was the best choice, there was no doubt that Damongo towered above the rest.

Coming strongly from another end is Bole, which also presents a strong argument for selection as the regional capital. Salaga is also in contention.

Ahafo

Some of the notable towns that have come up as strong contenders for the capital of the Ahafo Region are Goaso, Mim, Duayaw Nkwanta, Bechem, Hwidiem and Kenyasi.

Goaso, which is the capital of the Asunafo North municipality, is seen as the frontrunner, especially as it has the facilities to host the regional capital.

Interestingly, Hwidiem and Kenyasi presented a joint petition to the President to make the two towns, which are about three kilometres apart, the common regional capital.

Mim, formerly known for its timber business, is the dark horse in the race.

Duayaw Nkwanta and Bechem are big towns alright, but whether they have what it takes to be the capital remains to be answered by next Tuesday.

no East

There is also strong competition among the towns in this region for the capital with Techiman and Atebubu being the major contenders.

Techiman, a sprawling municipality, is strongly positioned for the capital, but Atebubu too has the facilities to host the capital. The people of Kintampo, a town said to be the centre of the country, are also asking the government to consider the town as capital of the Bono East Region.

For now, all are waiting with bated breath for the President’s announcement.

Western North

In this region, Bibiani, Sefwi Wiawso and Sefwi Bekwai are in contention for the capital.

The chiefs and the people of these three towns have been touting the credentials of the towns as best for the regional capital.

Oti

Although the Oti Movement, a group of chiefs and opinion leaders in the northern part of the Volta Region who submitted the petition that led to the creation of the Oti Region, has indicated that they will accept any town chosen as the regional capital, there are indications that some of the towns are praying to be chosen.

These towns are Jasikan, Kadjebi and Kete Krachi.

Broader consultation

Mr Botwe, during his visit to the Overlord of Mamprugu, stated that “the President has done a lot of consultations with people across the length and breadth of the country and there will be no confusion after the announcement of the regional capitals”.

He said the rationale behind the creation of the regions was to bring rapid development to the affected areas and so development would not be centred at only the regional capitals but spread across the affected areas.

“There were even fears that the creation of the new regions would bring about ethnic clashes, but we have gone through all the processes peacefully and there is no way development will be centred in only the regional capitals and so people should understand the situation,” he indicated.

Rapid development

The Northern Regional Minister, Mr Salifu Saeed, who led Mr Botwe and his delegation on the visit to the Nayiri’s Palace, reiterated the fact that the creation of the new regions would ensure a fair distribution of national resources.

He called on the chiefs and the people of the newly created North East Region to rally behind the government as it worked assiduously to manage the expectations of the citizenry by ensuring that all its development promises were fulfilled.

“Now that the North East Region is created, it will bring development and more jobs will be created, which will go a long way to reduce unemployment in the area,” he said.

Nayiri

Naa Sheriga, for his part, commended the government for listening to the plea of the people for the creation of the new region and gave an assurance that he would honour the President’s invitation to the inauguration of the new regions.

He also called for peace and unity among the people to enable development to thrive in the area.
Source: Daily Graphic Ghana
]]><![CDATA[Our demands to make Gambaga Capital of NER unchanged - Youth to Gov’t, Nayiri]]>Sat, 09 Feb 2019 06:02:09 GMThttp://ghana-net.com/ghana-district-news/our-demands-to-make-gambaga-capital-of-ner-unchanged-youth-to-govt-nayiriThe youth of Gambaga in the East Mamprusi Municipal in the Northern Region have reechoed their demands for the area to be made the capital of the newly created North East Region.
According to the group in a latest statement copied to MyNewsGh.com, claims they never petitioned for the area to be made the capital are untrue insisting that series of demonstrations as well as press conferences extensively covered points to this fact.

They insist that some individuals within the area are bent on usurping on the rights of majority of residents of the area and therefore wants the Minister of Regional Reorganization and Development, Hon. Daniel Kweku Botwe to ensure that the rightful place is made the capital

Nayiri Naa Bohigu Abdulai Mahami Sheriga , they pleaded must as a matter of urgency call to order those individuals within his kingdom who have set out to create chaos and to mar the beauty of his rule.

“Their actions are a threat to his rule and the peace of the entire north east region”, they warned.

Gambaga for several decades, they argued has been regarded as the administrative capital of the East Mamprusi Municipality and Gambaga equally respect Nalerigu as the traditional capital of Mamprugu.

"This mutual role of the two towns should be maintained for the good of the entire North East Region. The ministry for regional reorganization should not leave the issue of siting the capital of the North East Region to only the chiefs as it is increasingly becoming clear that there is some compromise being made of the chiefs in the case of the North East Region”, it stated.

Continuing their request, the group stated “The ministry should stick to its earlier idea of consulting technocrats to aid in a proper siting of the capital. It is our hope that such technocrats will meticulously and patiently sift through all matters without succumbing to the whims and caprices of interested parties within the North East Region.

​In the face of political history, centrality, available existing infrastructure and administrative resources, security and defence and land and other natural resources to kick start as capital of the NER, Gambaga is unmatched and indeed stands very tall. Finally, we call on His Excellence Nana Addo who is a man who stands for truth and justice and a lawyer who respects the tenets of democracy to ensure that people with parochial interest do not tarnish his reputation through this issue of siting the capital of the North East Region.

It is our hope and expectation that all relevant stakeholders will be consulted and all reasonable factors will be considered in siting the capital of the NER. This will ensure that the new region will bring the needed development to the area in an atmosphere of peace”
Source: mynewsgh. com
]]><![CDATA[Scramble for new regional capitals begins]]>Fri, 08 Feb 2019 08:00:00 GMThttp://ghana-net.com/ghana-district-news/scramble-for-new-regional-capitals-begins​An intense ‘fight’ appears to be ensuing in the newly created regions over the siting of the regional capitals following the just-ended referendum which many have described as ‘successful.’
Currently, residents of the Western North carved out of the Western Region; Ahafo and Bono East, both carved out of the Brong Ahafo Region; Oti created out of the Volta Region as well as the North-East and Savannah carved out of the Northern Region, are all lobbying intensely to get their towns as regional capitals.

It is turning out that after uniting to rally their people to campaign massively for a ‘Yes’ vote for the new regions, the respective chiefs and traditional leaders are the ones leading the lobbying.

Western North

From Sefwi Wiawso in the Western Region, Emmanuel Opoku reports that some residents of Sefwi Wiawso and Bibiani have started lobbying for the capital to be sited in their respective towns. 

Those in Bibiani claim the town is the centre of the new region and would be easily accessible to all the people in Western North.

“Traveling from the rest of the eight districts to Bibiani is not difficult, and this is a fact nobody can dispute,” one of the lobbyists from Bibiani asserted.

However, some residents in the Sefwi Wiawso Municipality are insisting that the area is primed for the regional capital.

According to them, the municipality has the requisite infrastructure to host the capital of the new region.

Western Regional Minister, Dr. Kwaku Afriyie, indicated later that even though discussions had been held over the siting of the regional capital, he was not in the position to declare it now.

Coordinator of the Western North Secretariat, Lt. Col. Anthony Aduhene (Rtd), remarked that “we are happy that at long last, we have our own region and hoping for accelerated development.”

“We intend to call for a meeting of the chiefs and all stakeholders to discuss where the regional capital should be sited,” he added.

The people in the proposed new region overwhelmingly endorsed the creation of the new Western North Region, as 99.52 per cent of the electorate, who participated in the referendum, voted ‘Yes’ in support of the creation of the Western North Region.

Brong Ahafo

From Sunyani in the Brong Ahafo Region, Daniel Y. Dayee writes that residents of both the newly created Bono East and Ahafo regions are ‘fighting’ to get their towns to be made regional capitals.

In Ahafo, big towns like Goaso in the Asunafo North Municipality, Bechem in the Tano South Municipality and Hwidiem in the Asutifi South Municipality, all want to host the regional capital.

For Bono East, Techiman in the Techiman Municipality, Kintampo in the Kintampo Municipality, as well as Atebubu in the Atebubu Amantin Municipality, are in a tussle for the regional capital. It appears Techiman may have the advantage due to the level of infrastructure for the take off of the new region.

Oti

From the Volta Region, Fred Duodu reports that there is intense lobbying in the newly created Oti Region for the regional capital.

Big towns like Nkwanta, Jasikan, Kadjebi, Krachi and Dambai are all clamouring for the regional capitals, and the powerful chiefs in the respective areas are not leaving any stone unturned.

Savannah

In the newly created Savannah Region, Eric Kombat reports from Tamale that it appears to be a straight fight between Damongo and Salaga.

DAILY GUIDE understands that the Yagbonwura, who is the overlord of Gonjaland, reportedly made a personal request to the government to site the capital in Damongo, the traditional capital.

North-East

In the case of North-East Region, it appears to be a straight ‘fight’ between three prominent towns – Walewale, Nalerigu and Gambaga.

However, the Nayiri, who is the Paramount Chief of Mamprugu Traditional Area and President of the Northern Regional House of Chiefs, Naa Bohagu Mahami Shirega, is on record to have called on government to select Nalerigu as the regional capital.
According to him, the request for the capital to be sited in Nalerigu started when he petitioned the presidency for a new region.

“This is Mamprugu and every chief in Mamprugu has a place of residence in Nalerigu and so there’s no suitable place than Nalerigu,” he added.

He indicated that siting of the capital of the North-East Region in Nalerigu would bring development to the area and create jobs for the youth and good people of the area.

The Nayiri called on investors to explore the potentials in the area to help develop the North-East Region and the country as a whole.

“We have investment potentials; limestone for cement, vast lands for agriculture purposes and tourism as well.”   Source: DailyGuideAfrica. com
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