Local Government Minister
The Minister of Regional Reorganisation and Development, Dan Botwe, has touted President Akufo-Addo’s excellent show of leadership in the creation of the six new regions in the country.
According to him, the creation of the new regions was purely demand-driven since petitions were received by the President from chiefs and people of the proposed regions that demanded alteration of the country’s regional boundaries in accordance with the 1992 constitution.
Addressing the Nation Building Updates in Accra yesterday, under the theme “Rebuilding the Ghanaian Economy”, the Minister noted that the creation of six additional regions by the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) has helped bring development closer to Ghanaians and improved access to public services.
“The important issue is people demanded to have new regions. They believed and it is very true that it will bring government closer to the people. It will lay the foundation for accelerated development. They had wanted it for a long time and this has been done and as I said, government is to pursue policy and programmes that will satisfy the aspirations of the people. We can boldly say that through the courageous leadership of Akufo-Addo, what was deep seated aspirations of sections of our country has been achieved with the basis of accelerated development has now been laid,” he said.
Processes
He said the decision to alter the country’s regional boundaries was reached as a result of the President’s interactions with the Ghanaian people and his preparedness to address the concern of Ghanaians especially those in remote areas who were deprived of development.
This, he said, was followed by series of processes, including the appointment of the Justice S.A. Brobbey Commission in October 2017 to carry out consultation meetings, which later recommended the conduction of referendum to determine whether or not the regions needed to be created.
Significance
Highlighting the benefits the creation of these regions has brought to its indigenes, the Minister noted the improvement in the country’s regional governance structure, which he said has enabled government come closer to the people, and thereby facilitate the rapid development of the country’s economy.
He said in line with inclusive governance, government through his Ministry has initiated and is implementing a number of programmes and projects in these new regions. Some of these projects, he noted, is the presentation of 48 vehicles, eight per region, and 30 motorbikes to the newly established Regional Coordinating Councils (RCCs) of the various regions to aid in their day to day administrative works.
The Minister also noted that the government has engaged Land Use and Spatial Planning Authority (LUSPA) to prepare local plans in respect of lands allocated for the construction of six new RCC Administration blocks, bungalows and future developments. He said this will help the bring development to every corner of the country.
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