'Shun partisan politics in quest for new regions' - Former minister

Professor Christopher Ameyaw-Akumfi, a former minister of state, has urged the chiefs and people of Bono East to shun partisan politics in their quest for the creation of a new region.

He affirmed that the movement for the creation of the new Bono East Region was in the right direction, but added that until the people bury their political differences and forge ahead in unity, the campaign would not yield results.

Prof Ameyaw-Akumfi, who is the Chairman of the coammittee spearheading the creation of the Bono East Region made the call when he addressed the chiefs and people of the Atebubu-Amantin, Pru, Sene West and Sene East Districts at a forum at Atebubu.

It was organised by the Bono East Youth Alliance, a pressure group, aimed at sensitising the people on the processes involved in the creation of a new region, in accordance with Article 5 of the 1992 constitution.

Prof Ameyaw-Akumfi, who is also the Board Chairman of the Ghana Infrastructural Investment Fund (GIIF) and a former Member of Parliament for Techiman North Constituency, noted that President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo was on course and it was up to the campaigners to meet the requirements for the creation of the new regions.

He indicated that his committee would send a petition to the Commission of Inquiry set up by the government and assured the people that certainly the Commission would understand the import of the petition for the creation of the region.

Prof Ameyaw-Akumfi explained to the people the need for intensified public education on the referendum process so that they would be able to meet the 50 per cent voter turnout and the required 80 per cent votes. Mr Kofi Amoakohene, the Member of Parliament for Atebubu-Amantin constituency observed that successive governments had neglected the people in the area of development for a long time.

Edward Owusu, Atebubu-Amantin District Chief Executive, commended the chiefs and people for their continuous support towards the development of the area. He reminded them the creation of the new regions was captured in the 2016 manifestos of both the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and the National Democratic Congress (NDC), and urged followers of the two political parties and others to support it.

Kokroko Amankwaa, General Secretary of the National Association of Local Authorities of Ghana (NALAG), noted that the creation of the new regions was a giant step to deepen decentralisation and local governance.