Government has rejected claims by some Ghanaians that the decision to create six new regions out of existing ones is driven by tribal or ethnic motives.

A Ghanaian resident in the United States of America (USA) last Friday engaged in a banter with President Akufo Addo over the creation of the Oti Region out of the Volta Region.

A Commission of Enquiry set up by President Akufo Addo recommended the creation of six new regions after vetting petitions presented by people of the region for same.

The Electoral Commission pursuant to the constitution has accordingly organized a limited voters registration exercise in the affected areas ahead of a referendum in December 2018.

However, ahead of a meeting with the Ghanaian Community in Washington D.C, a concerned Voltarian identified as Koshi Nutapkor told President Akufo Addo in the face that the approach of the referendum was wrong and described the move as land grabbing.

But commenting on the issue, the Information Minister-designate, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah explains that the creation of the new regions follows a series of petitions presented.



“Note that the President is bound by the constitution Article 5 (2) to act on those petitions. There are stringent constitutional thresholds, there must be a 50% turnout and an 80% yes votes of the 50% minimum turnout. Therefore those who seek to make claims that the exercise is tribally motivated should desist from those non-factual claims and instead seek to convince the people of the affected areas to vote no at the referendum.”