President Akufo-Addo presenting the Constitutional Instrument to the Nayiri, Naa Mahami Bohogu Sheriga Abdulai (second from left)
The number of regions in Ghana is now officially 12, following the public declaration of the North East and Savannah regions as the newly created regions by President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo yesterday.
The President, at two separate ceremonies at the Jubilee House in Accra to officially outdoor the new regions, also announced Nalerigu and Damongo as the regional capitals of the North East and Savannah regions respectively.
The regions were created out of the Northern Region and are part of the six new regions expected to be added to the existing regions by Friday to bring the total number of regions in the country to 16.
The North East Region was created by Constitutional Instrument (C.I 116) while the Savannah Region was created by C.I 115. Both CIs have been officially gazetted.
President Akufo-Addo presented the Document of Attestation for the creation of the North East Region to the Overlord of Mamprugu, Naa Bohagu Mahami Abdulai Sheriga, who led a delegation of chiefs and people from his area to participate in the official outdooring of the region.
The Overlord of Gonja, Yagbonwura Tutumba Bore Esa I, also received the Document of Attestation for the creation of the Savannah Region when he also led his delegation to attend the creation of the new region at the Jubilee House.
The rich culture and tradition of Mamprugu and Gonja were on full display as the chiefs and their people, resplendently dressed in traditional smock, sang and danced at the ceremonies.
Members of Parliament from the area from both sides of the political divide were also at the events to support and thank the President for leading the creation of the new districts.
President Akufo-Addo said the government had earmarked an amount of GH¢20 million as seed money for the two regions and charged the Northern Regional Minister, Salifu Saeed, to act as caretaker minister for both regions until substantive ministers were appointed.
He expressed the government’s commitment to ensure the growth and progress, which were the underlining reason for the vote for the creation of the regions, were met and urged the people in the newly created regions to work together to make their regions great.
The two eminent chiefs expressed gratitude to the President for leading the process to ensure the creation of the new regions and urged the government to make the necessary resources available to facilitate the growth of the regions.
A committee of seven ministers, chaired by the Minister of Regional Reorganisation and Development, has been created with a task to plan the immediate, short, medium and long term development of the new regions.
The committee has the Ministers of Planning, Prof. Gyan Baffuor, Local Government and Rural Development, Madam Alima Mahama, Special Development Initiatives, Mavis Hawa Koomson, Finance, Ken Ofori-Atta, National Security, Albert Kan Dapaah, and a Presidential Advisor, Dr Kwame Amoako Tuffuor as members.
THe North East Region has six districts. They are the Bunkpurugu-Nyankpanduri, Chereponi, East Mamprusi, Mamprugu Moagduri, West Mamprusi and the Yunyoo-Nasuan districts.
The Savannah Region, which is currently the largest region in the country, is comprised of Bole, Central Gonja, North Gonja, East Gonja, North East Gonja D, West Gonja and Sawla-Tuna-Kalba districts.
President Akufo-Addo is expected to announce the creation of two new regions and their regional capitals today and complete the process of creating six new regions on Friday.
ghanaiantimes.com.gh
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