Minority MP for the Bodi Constituency in the Western Region, Sampson Ahi, is canvassing votes in favour of the creation of the Western North Region by the Akufo-Addo government.

The government set up a Committee of Inquiry to look into the need for the creation of six new regions in addition to the 10 existing one.

With the referenda set for 27 December 2018 for the proposed regions, Mr Ahi told Class91.3FM’s parliamentary correspondent, Ekow Annan that: “Those of us in the Northern part of Western Region are happy that finally, we are going to get our own region”.

“I'm going to vote YES because I have been campaigning since we started. Last week, I met our paramount chief and we all agreed that we are for the [creation of] the new region”.

Mr Ahi said the region, if created, will have nine districts and nine constituencies, which will include Bibiani, Sefwi-Wiawso, Bia East, Bia West, Juaboso, Bodi and Akontombra.

He observed that the people in the area “believe that this is a policy that all of us must embrace and then support irrespective of our political affiliation. We don’t want to introduce politics into the creation of the Western North Region. We are ready, together with our chiefs, our religious authorities, traditional leaders, opinion leaders, and everyone.

“I'm hoping that by the end of 27 December or 28 December, we would have voted YES to pave the way for other modalities to be concluded so that we will have our region”.

Meanwhile, special voting in the referenda regarding the creation of the new regions is underway.

Only security personnel who fall within the areas to be affected by the new regions and personnel of state institutions that will play critical roles on Thursday, 27 December 2018 during the general referenda, are allowed to take part in the special voting.

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