Commission of Enquiry for Creation of Regions holds third hearing
The Commission of Enquiry for the Creation of Regions, on Thursday held its third hearing in Accra, with petitioners from the Ahafo Council of the Brong Ahafo Region of Ghana.
The petitioners consisted mainly of Chiefs, Elders and other prominent persons of the Area.
The Commission held its first hearing on Tuesday November 21, 2017 with petitioners from the Western Region, and the second hearing on Wednesday, November 22nd, 2017, with petitioners from the Volta region.
Justice Stephen Allan Brobbey, Chairman of the Commission and a retired Supreme Court Judge, welcomed the petitioners and noted that, “this exercise of creating a region under Article 5 of the 1992 Constitution is demand driven, and so we have a duty to listen to you the people who have made the demand.”
He continued, “we are required by our terms of reference, to establish the need and substantial demand, for the creation of a region.”
Justice Brobbey observed, that this was the first time that the provisions of Article 5 of the 1992 Constitution on the creation or alteration of a region, had been invoked.
“There is therefore a duty on all of us to ensure that we chart a course that is ultimately in the best interest of our people,” he said.
The hearings, which is held in camera, is to create a congenial atmosphere “for our chiefs and elders” who form the bulk of the petitioners, to feel free to give information on their demands, the Chairman said.
He said the remaining three sittings of the Commission, would be held on November 28th, 2017, November 29th, 2017 and December 5th, 2017, with petitioners from Bono-East in the Brong-Ahafo Region, Gonja Land in the Northern Region and Mamprugu in the Northern Region, respectively.
After the conclusion of the six hearings in Accra, the Commission would move to the regions for further consultations from petitioners and members of the public, who may wish to make presentations on the creation of regions, said Justice Brobbey.
He said following the regional hearings, there would be final meetings in Accra again to hear presentations from those who would be unable to appear at the regional hearings, but who would still want to make presentations on the creation of regions.
The regional hearings and final meetings in Accra would not be conducted in camera, Justice Brobbey said.
The President, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, inaugurated the nine- member Commission on October 19, 2017, to examine petitions for the creation of new regions, and make recommendations to the government, based on its findings.
Source: GNA