Canada-based Ghanaian economic professor has shot down arguments being made in support of the creation of four new regions in the country, and cautioned President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo not to succumb to pressures. Profesor J. Atsu Amegashie of the University of Guelph contends arguments that have been advanced so far are based purely on what he termed “dubious economic analysis,” indicating they are not backed by any informed or even anecdotal evidence. President Akufo-Addo in the run up to the December 7, 2016 elections promised to create a new region, Western North, out of the current Western Region to ensure a more equitable distribution of resources. On January 11, 2017, he announced his government would spearhead the creation of four new regions beginning 2018 to make 14, the total number of regions in Ghana. He justified that by saying “the process of devolution of power will require that we look again at the regional structures of our country all with the aim of trying to promote rapid development of Ghana…” READ: 4 new regions to be created starting 2018 – Nana Addo He consequently created the Ministry of Regional Re-organization and Development and placed Dan Kweku Botwe at the helm of affairs. At his vetting, Mr. Botwe suggested the creation of new regions would accelerate development and address poverty. To him, a new region will get a Regional Coordinating Council, a key development agent of the state, as well as several state institutions like the Police, Fire Service and health posts. These institutions, he argued, would generate jobs and enhance development. Volta Regional minister, Dr. Archibald Letsa, was also quoted to have said: “Volta Region’s length was such that it bordered a number of regions in the north to the south, thereby making it difficult for those in the northern part of the region to have access to the regional capital and its institutions of state.” Currently, a Commission of Enquiry headed by a retired Supreme Court judge, Justice S. A. Brobbey and inaugurated by the President in October 2017 is going round the country to collate views from the public proposed four new regions. READ: Creation of new regions likely to be threatened by legal issues Small region not guarantee for dev’t But Prof. Amegashie disagreed with the assertion by the two government officials, describing same as lacking informed evidence.
Don’t succumb to ‘dubious economic analysis’ to create new regions – Akufo-Addo warned
By Steven Effah
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Steven Effah is a writer with 3news.com. Follow him on X, @effah-steven and LinkedIn: Steven Effah