By A.B.
Kafui Kanyi/Samuel Akumatey, GNA
Kpetoe (V/R), Oct. 22, GNA – President Nana
Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has called on factions opposing the creation of the
proposed Oti Region from the Volta Region, particularly chiefs, to do so with
prudence, and not accuse government of seeking political or tribal divide.
The President noted that the process, in other
parts of the country had been met with little or no foul cries, and expressed
“dismay at the deliberate peddling of falsehood that has characterised the
concerted campaign against the possible creation of Oti out of the Volta
Region.”
The President said this in a speech read on
his behalf by Mr John Peter Amewu, Minister for Energy at the grand durbar of
the 2018 Agotime Kente Festival of the chiefs and people of Agotime Kpetoe at
Kpetoe in the Agotime Ziofe District of the Volta Region.
He referenced the 1956 Plebiscite, and the
recent Scottish referendum to back the poll limits of the upcoming referendum on
the new regions, and assured of his government’s “strict” adherence
to the Constitution throughout the whole process.
“I wish to plead with our esteemed
chiefs, in particular, to be circumspect in the choice of language as they
pursue their arguments. These are new territories for all of us, and the
Constitutional requirement to create a new region is as high as has ever been
demanded.
“For the avoidance of doubt let me state
clearly that this exercise is not an NPP NDC exercise, indeed both NPP and NDC
agreed on it. It is not an Akan versus Ewe exercise. We are sticking
scrupulously to the dictates of the Constitution,” he said.
He asked the people to consider the economic
transformation the split would bring to the new regions, and also to always keep
in mind the bond of common destiny.
“Whatever the outcome, we shall remain
one nation, Ghana, with an intrinsically bound destiny, and we should never
forget that,” he said.
Meanwhile, Togbe Afede XIV, Agbogbomefia of
Asogli and President of the National House of Chiefs addressing the Association
of Ewe Chiefs in Ho, said it was not only “disingenuous, but dangerous to cite
wrong examples” of Scotland, Eritrea, South Sudan, Trans Volta Togoland, and
other distinct territories or countries in disregard to the 1992 Constitution
for participation in the referendum in the creation of new regions.
He said “the use of these examples is creating
a dangerous precedent, with implications for the survival of our country. Will
Ghana allow any part of the country to vote alone to decide their independence,
as was done for Scotland, Eritrea, South Sudan, Trans Volta Togoland, etc”
Togbe Afede chastised the Commission of
Inquiry into the creation of new regions for not doing a good job, saying, it
disregarded calls to extend hearing to other parts of affected regions, failed
to specify issues to be determined by the referendum and the places, creating
controversies.
“…the Commission was in haste to create new
regions, but failed to do a thorough job, that would include specifying the
issues to be determined. The concentration of its public hearings on the areas
from which petitions were received, against all logic, betrayed an obsession to
help fulfil a campaign promise,” he stated.
He therefore reiterated the call on government
to ensure that due process was followed in the creation of new regions for
peace, unity and development.
The festival was on the theme: “Attitudinal
Change, the Panacea for our Future Development,” and attracted tourists from
across the globe.
President Akufo-Addo underscored the need to
explore the dynamics of the kente weaving art and advised the weavers not to
take the profession for granted.
GNA