Chiefs whose area would be affected during the creation of new regions have been assured their allegiance won’t be affected.
Minister for Regional Reorganization and Development, Daniel Kwaku Botwe the allegiance of chiefs which territory expands to the six new regions are Western North, Bono East, Ahafo, Savannah, North East and Oti Region remain intact.
His comment is in reaction to dissents from some chiefs in the area who feel threatened by the creation of the regions.
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Vociferous amongst them is Agbogbomefia of the Asogli State in the Volta region, Togbe Afede XIV said the creation of Oti Region and other new regions involves the alteration of existing boundaries.
He therefore asked stakeholders to ensure the referendum covers other parts of the affected regions.
Togbe Afede went to the extent of describing as “disingenuous and dangerous” examples cited by President Akufo-Addo of Scotland, Eritrea, South Sudan and Trans-Volta Togoland to support the referendum to be held only in areas calling for the new regions.
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But Dan Botwe on Asempa FM’s Ekosii Sen programme Thursday allayed the fears of Togbe Afede and other chiefs who feel threatened.
He said they are not creating “ethnic regions” people in the new regions will still pay homage to them as their chiefs.
“We are not creating ethnic regions so your allegiance is intact. All government intends to do is to ensure equitable distribution of the national cake” Dan Botwe opined.
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The Regional Reorganization and Development Minister also debunked the assertion that the siting and naming of the regional capitals of the proposed regions would be from the President but rather it would be based on the recommendation of the Commission of Enquiry on the creation of the new regions.
He traced the creation of new regions to historical antecedents dating as far back as 1898 from the Gold Coast to date, saying the demand for the creation of the new regions was not new and it was also in consonance with the relevant provisions in the 1992 Constitution.
Dan Botwe maintained that, government is not interested in leading the campaign for the creation of those proposed regions.