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General News of Monday, 27 August 2018

Source: 3news.com

Referendum on creation of new regions will cost government no money – Minister

Deputy Regional Re-organisation Minister, Martin Agyei-Mensah Korsah Deputy Regional Re-organisation Minister, Martin Agyei-Mensah Korsah

Deputy Minister of Regional Re-organisation, Martin Agyei-Mensah Korsah has stated that the government of Ghana will not spend money on organising a referendum for the creation of new regions in the country.

According to the Deputy Minister, claims by some persons, that the creation of some six new regions will take a toll on the national purse is not true.

Speaking on 3FM’s Sunrise morning show on Monday, August 27, Mr Korsah said the referendum for the creation of the new regions will be carried out by the Electoral Commission, and that they would work with their already existing budget.

“It is the EC’s budget; of course, maybe you would have to get additional personnel …This is just a referendum,… you are not buying any separate equipment because of this referendum.”

“The referendum, I do not think it has a separate cost for now. You have the various stakeholder agencies that have their annual budget sent and approved by parliament, and they will be undertaking this as a small assignment within their yearly program,” Mr Korsah noted.

The said referendum is scheduled to take place on December 27, 2018.

Mr Korsah also noted that plans are far advanced for the referendum to be carried out.

Background to the creation of six new regions

The NPP government promised to create six new regions prior to the 2016 General Elections.

President Akufo-Addo established a Commission of Inquiry to look into the issue of the proposal to create these six new regions.

Findings from the Commission gave the president the go-ahead to begin the processes towards the creation of the new regions.

The Commission recommended that the Electoral Commission should carry out a referendum in the proposed regions.

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