Don’t be bias interpreting Constitution to create new regions – Togbe Afede

The President of the National House of Chiefs has advised against the bias interpretation of the Constitution in the creation of new regions to favour a particular faction in fulfilment of a campaign promise.

According to Togbe Afede XIV, a wrongful interpreting and implementation of the Constitution could be contested hence the need for a fair and honest interpretation to ensure due diligence is done.

Speaking at his palace in Ho when the Association of Ewe Chiefs paid a courtesy call on him, he said whatever is done must be backed by the constitution.

Related: Creation of new regions: Stick to the law – Togbe Afede urges

“The thinking of the framers of the law to protect the integrity of this country and its regions,” he said should be considered, reports Nana Quame Asare.

Togbe Afede said he had been beseeched with several petitions regarding some reported recommendations of the committee some which have generated controversy especially the inclusion of Lolobi and Akpafu in the proposed Oti region and the conduct of the referendum.

In all six new regions will be created bringing the total number of administrative regions to 16, a number some critics say will be a drain on the country’s meagre resources.

The Justice Brobbey Commission of Enquiry recommended the creation of six new regions from the present Brong Ahafo, Western, Northern and the Volta regions after studying and investigating several petitions submitted.

Dan Botwe, Minister for Regional Reorganisation

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

However, at least 50 per cent participation of registered voters in the proposed areas must vote with an endorsement of 80 per cent to seal the creation of the new regions.

But Togbe Afede said the work of the Justice Brobbey-ed Commission was not thoroughly done.

According to him, it failed to make known names, boundaries and capital cities of the new region as prescribed by the constitution.

Related: New regions: Dagbon chiefs fight removal of Chereponi from Northern region

“There is more involved in the creation of new region than just the decision to create the new regions…The Constitution requires the Commission to advise the president of all these issues that should be decided in a referendum.

“But we are not hearing anything, all we keep hearing are ‘yes, we want it’ and ‘no don’t want it’…I don’t believe that the referendum should be a yes or no answer,” he said.

He said such essential matters were glossed over by the Commission which he said, “were in a hurry to create a new region and therefore did a poor job.”

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