General News of Tuesday, 26 December 2017
Source: Myjoyonline.com
2017-12-26
Agitations grow over plans by government to split the region into two
The Volta Regional Caucus in Parliament is calling for calm among residents as agitations grow over plans to split the region into two.
A group calling itself the Concerned Volta Youth has raised concerns over attempts by the Akufo-Addo government to partition the region.
The group believes the plan to split the region is for political expediency – that is to weaken the strongholds of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) – and has, therefore, promised to resist any attempt to partition the region.
However, there are also opposing groups pushing for the partitioning of the region.
Generally, chiefs in the northern part of the Volta Region are pushing for the split, but those in the southern part disagree.
A commission set up by President Akufo-Addo to shepherd the creation of the new regions is currently studying petitions for and against the move.
Commenting on the matter recently, Chairman of the Volta Region Caucus in Parliament, Emmanuel Bedzrah, said the paramount interest of the entire region must be prioritised in the final decision to split the region or do otherwise.
“There have been agitations around, both for [the creation of the region] and against. But we have noticed that the against is even more than those for.
“Therefore, the committee is working. So I want to appeal to my people, especially in the Volta Region, to stay calm,” Mr Bedzrah said.
The Volta Region is among four regions ticked for possible splits. The Northern, Eastern and Brong Ahafo regions are the other three.
The Akufo-Addo-led government argues that splitting of regions is to accelerate development.
However, critics say decentralisation of power instead of the creation of regions is the path to real development.
