The government says it won’t get involved in the campaign for the upcoming referendum for the creation of an additional six regions in the country.
The Minister for Regional Re-organisation, Daniel Kweku Botwe, has disclosed that the government will not invest any resources in campaigning for either a ‘yes’ or ‘no’ votes.
The government, according to Mr Botwe, will allow constitutionally mandated institutions to embark on such campaigns.
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“Government will only facilitate and finance the education campaigns by the constitutionally mandated bodies such as the Electoral Commission, the Information Services Department among others because it’s the choice of the people to either vote for the new regions or not,” he stated.
Dan Botwe who is also MP for Okere was speaking Wednesday on Adom FM’s current affairs show, Burning Issues.
His comments follow the Supreme Court ruling that dismissed a suit challenging the creation of the proposed Oti Region out of the Volta Region and other new regions.
The Supreme Court had given clearance to the Electoral Commission to hold its referendum in selected areas earmarked for the creation of new regions.
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The applicants had been seeking an interpretation of Article 5(4) of the 1992 Constitution, which states that “where a commission of inquiry appointed under clause (2) and (3) of this article finds that there is the need and a substantial demand for the creation, alteration or merger referred to in either of those clauses, it shall recommend to the President that a referendum be held, specifying the issues to be determined by the referendum and the places where the referendum should be held”.
However, in its judgment read by Justice Professor Nii Ashie Kotey, the seven-member panel unanimously held that that the Article is clear in meaning and had no ambiguity whatsoever about it, hence there was no need for interpretation.
The Justices also said the Commission of Enquiry did not err in suggesting how the referendum should be held as they did not hold the final authority to decide.
On the readiness for the new six (6) regions which include Oti, Western North, Brong East, Ahafo, North East and Savannah, Dan Botwe revealed that the Constitutional Instrument (CI 109) for the new regions will mature on the 29th November 2018, to pave way for the EC to embark on its journey.
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Dan Botwe added that plans are far advance for the upcoming referendum despite the opposition from some minor groups.
The Electoral Commission (EC) has set December 27, 2018, for the referendum on the creation of six new regions.
The Commission is currently embarking on a series of activities ahead of the referendum to create the new regions ahead of the said date.
