Mr Awal
Northern Sector Action on Awareness Centre (NORSAAC), a non-governmental organisation (NGO) focusing on empowerment, has organised sensitisation training for residents of the Upper West Region on the forthcoming referendum on the proposed demarcation of new regions.
It was aimed at educating the public on the referendum and the election of metropolitan, municipal and district chief executives (MMDCEs) was held on the theme: ‘The referendum we want,’ was sponsored by Star Ghana and attended by stakeholders.
Alhassan Mohammed Awal, the Executive Director of NORSAAC, observed that the programme was one of many governance related projects that NORSAAC was implementing in parts of the country to ensure its reflection on the lives of the people.
“NORSAAC will partner organisations like Community Development Alliance (CDA) to reduce unacceptable poverty indicators of the Upper West Region by empowering women, vulnerable and youth.
“As the nation prepares for series of referenda which will undoubtedly affect economic and social lives of the residents, especially in areas that will experience re-demarcations, residents deserve to know the processes in order to exercise their franchise.
“The centre will build capacities of civil society organisations to achieve inclusion, efficient and effective participation of residents in the upcoming regional demarcation,” Mr Awal noted.
Ali Osman, the Deputy Upper West Regional Director of the Electoral Commission, said the Commission was adequately prepared for the referendum exercise as it had been resourced to undertake the task.
He noted that the limited voter registration exercise was underway in the affected regions for people who had attained 18 years and above to take part in the forthcoming referendum.
It will be recalled that prior to the 2016 elections, the New Patriotic Party (NPP) promised to create six additional regions and also introduce a legal framework to pave way for election of MMDCEs to facilitate development.
Justice Brobbey Commission of Enquiry instituted by government to look into the regional demarcations, recommended splitting of Bono East and Ahafo regions both in the Brong-Ahafo region, Savanna and North East regions from the Northern Region, Western North from Western Region and the Oti Region from the Volta Region. -GNA
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